Era Of Brexit Research Articles

‘Intelligible government’: rethinking the meaning of monarchy in the age of King Charles III

ABSTRACT At the beginning of a new reign it seems appropriate to re-assess the meaning of monarchy in modern Britain. The new King heads a fractured royal family, a divided nation, and a disaffected Commonwealth. How can we as scholars make sense of where the monarchy has been, and where it might be going? This article suggests a new scholarly approach is required. Through a critical analysis of three classic studies of monarchy: Walter Bagehot’s The English constitution (1867), Kingsley Martin’s The magic of monarchy (1937) and Tom Nairn’s The enchanted glass (1988), the lecture traces the lineage of modern interpretations of the British monarchy and points up their limitations. Preoccupied with the symbolism of monarchy, conventional scholarship neglects its important political functions. As the lecture argues, in the era of Brexit at home and populist regimes around the world, modern democracies may actually need monarchy more than ever before.

Narrative fusion and layering: statecraft and the shaping of Boris Johnson’s pandemic narrative, 2020–2021

By examining the UK Prime Minister’s justifications for his government’s pandemic responses given during press conferences and during Prime Minister’s Questions from March 2020 to July 2021, this article illustrates the narrative ‘fusion’ (using the pandemic narrative to advance other elements of policy) and ‘layering’ (using the pandemic narrative to justify past policy decision) evident in the construction of Boris Johnson's pandemic narrative. The article makes the case for viewing Johnson’s COVID-19 narrative in light of broader political dynamics within UK politics, particularly adaptations of Conservative statecraft in the Brexit era that preceded the pandemic. The article argues that the narrative itself can be a product of multiple political crises and projects. Specifically, Johnson’s pandemic narrative ‘fused’ and ‘layered’ elements of two other narratives advanced during his time in office: countering challenges to the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom and justifying the withdrawal from the European Union.

After the Peace: Performing Placelessness in David Ireland’s Cyprus Avenue

This paper examines how contemporary Northern Irish playwright David Ireland’s Cyprus Avenue (2016) articulates the Northern Irish unionists’ antagonism in tandem with the displacement of Ulster in a world of changing spaces. While post-Troubles Northern Irish dramas have been easily grouped together with a shared sensibility in their attitude towards the processes of truth and reconciliation, Ireland’s drama regards the process of spatial homogenization as a crisis, a sense of placelessness, or the loss of the socio-culturally distinct Northern Irish identity. Cyprus Avenue traces the unionists’ sense of placelessness, fear, and anger for the identity dissolution, as globalization requires the psychological and emotional attachment to Northern Irish place to be erased. The play further shows the burdens of geo-ideologically liminal positioning of Ulster unionism and unionists’ psychogeography by highlighting bizarre and violent ways in which unionism is maintained and reproduced in the post-peace process Brexit era. The dramatic power of Ireland draws on the tension between the placelessness in a world of changing spaces and the quest for the assertion of the primacy of place. Ireland’s drama helps to acknowledge new predicaments and contestations of disintegrating Ulster unionism in shaping the milieu of post-peace process Northern Ireland. Rather than defining or constructing a unique identity, Cyprus Avenue allows us to examine contrasting dramatic focuses for contemporary Northern Irish geography as the play adheres to, yet challenges the Northern Irish identity problems. On a broader scope, this paper aims to demonstrate that Ireland’s drama can significantly contribute to understanding different dimensions of the Northern Irish milieu.

Loss and Assimilation: Lived Experiences of Brexit for British Citizens Living in Luxembourg

Inconsistent political realities are associated with mental health issues such as hopelessness, anxiety, and depression. The psychological impact of Brexit is clearly an important and timely issue, but hitherto has been understudied. This study uses a critical realist approach to qualitatively explore the lived experiences of British citizens living in Luxembourg during the Brexit era. The study reports on semi-structured interviews conducted with 6 British citizens aged 18–65. An experientially focused thematic analysis was conducted, exploring two main themes: Loss (with psychological and broader social implications) and Integration (contrasting the mover’s community with the receiving community). This study demonstrates the psychological impact of Brexit and highlights the urgency for future researchers and mental health practitioners alike — both in the UK and overseas — to consider the human consequences associated with political upheaval. Open access materials for this project can be viewed here: https://osf.io/38rg7/?view_only=b8c04dfc3fe5474f9aff4897e370b3e6.

The Operation of Traffic Rights in the Post- Brexit Era: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

On 30 December 2019, the European Union (EU) and Euratom, of the one part, and the United Kingdom (UK) of the other part, concluded an Agreement on Trade and Cooperation following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU. This agreement contains provisions on air transport, including the operation of traffic rights. It entered into force on 1 May 2020. The present essay will analyse the regulation of traffic rights in relation to the situation which governed the aviation relations between the two parties before said withdrawal, that is, the regime set forth by EU Regulation 1008/2008 on Common Rules for the Operation of Air Services in the Community. It will also look at the conduct of external aviation relations of the EU, while considering general air law provisions. In light of the previous state of the law, and similar arrangements made between jurisdictions aiming at the promotion of liberalization of trade and air services, it will be concluded that the restrictions on the operation of these traffic rights are relatively strict. Moreover, aviation, including traffic rights, has been approached in a rather pragmatic fashion, also meaning that the governance of the operation of air transport from an international and European law perspective has not always been appreciated. It is to be hoped that the parties will be able to establish a more liberal relationship in the future. Traffic rights, operation of air services, division of competencies, level playing field, fair competition, the EU internal market on air transport, air services agreements, the global framework

Representations of migration in U.K. and U.S. children’s picture books in the Trump and Brexit era

ABSTRACT In the wake of an intensifying hostile environment towards migrants and refugees in the U.S. and Europe, children’s picture books play an important role in shaping children’s understanding of migration and attitudes towards migrants. How do contemporary children’s books depict migration? This article discusses the findings of a thematic analysis of 40 picture books about migration, published between 2015 and 2019 in the U.K. and the U.S. We found that these books typically present successful migration stories where children move from unfortunate circumstances in their home countries to happier lives in the host countries. Host countries are mostly located in the global North and migrants are generally welcomed with generosity and hospitality. We also found that the books give important attention to historical contexts. However, while children’s picture books concerning migration contribute to enhancing children’s understanding of migration in some ways, they concurrently erase difference and injustice, and thus miss an opportunity to broaden children’s knowledge and appreciation of the plurality of cultures, experiences, and places and the urgent need to respect and protect them. IMPACT SUMMARY a. Prior State of Knowledge: Existing research, predominantly in the field of education, highlights how children’s books can promote understanding of and empathy towards migrants and refugees, dispel stereotypes, and teach children how to show kindness, respect, and hospitality towards migrants and refugees. b. Novel Contributions: The study highlights not just how children’s picture books contribute to enhancing children’s understanding of migration, but also how these books concurrently erase difference and injustice, and thus miss an opportunity to broaden children’s knowledge and appreciation of difference. c. Practical Implications: The study draws parents’ and educators’ attention to the lessons children can learn from picture books on immigration, their benefits and limitations. It advances storytellers’ understanding of how to broaden children’s knowledge and appreciation of difference in books about migration.

Britain enters the era of Brexit

In the decade after the 2008 financial crisis, the arrival of more hard-right politics in Europe gave rise to a new conventional wisdom by academics and commentators on politics: that identity was replacing ideology as the main driver in modern electoral politics. The two major votes of 2016, for Donald Trump and for Brexit, seemed to confirm that thesis. With the passage of time, however, the assumption that populist identity politics would consume all other factors that come into play in democracies has faded. There is a huge literature from the early years of the past decade arguing that anti-immigrant populist identity politics—and, in the case of Europe, passionate opposition to the EU—would completely transform the way we should describe and analyse political activity, campaigning, voting and, finally, the election and formation of governments. Donald Trump's associate Steve Bannon came to Europe, rented a disused monastery near Rome and was...

Brand Royal: Meghan Markle, feuding families, and disruptive duchessing in Brexit era Britain

ABSTRACT Focusing on mainstream and tabloid news reporting and ancillary texts, this article analyses the media presentation of Meghan Markle’s intersectional identities through a rhetoric of the feuding famous family. We argue that the media discourse centred on family conflict and domestic drama used to characterise Markle’s position as a royal during the Brexit era both surfaces and suppresses the significance of her existential challenge to the normative racial, class, national and gendered attributes associated with British royalty. That discourse also obfuscates and trivializes the power struggle over the significant economic capital and political “soft power” associated with the British Royal Family brand.

Private Markets, Infrastructure and Venture Capital in the Post-COVID Era: The Pension Perspective

This second of a series of seven papers co-authored by M. Nicolas J. Firzli and David Weeks looks at the notions of private markets – PE, VC, private debt and infrastructure – and the "quest for yields" in a low interest rates environment, which where discussed at two recent global conferences organised by the G7 Pensions Summit (G7 P7) and the Singapore Economic Forum (SEF). ESG, impact investing, renewable energy and the notion of green growth are also discussed by the co-authors and other experts, including the Hon. Nick Sherry, fmr. AUS minister of Superannuation & Corporate Law, Nick Silver, chairman, Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), Michael Dennis, Head, APAC, Alternatives & Cap. Markets, BlackRock, Dr Guan Seng Khoo, Singapore Management University (SMU) and Ingrid Edmund, Columbia Threadneedle Investments (CTI)The notion of financial long-term-ism is considered from the perspective of institutional asset owners, notably in the US, Britain and the European Union (EU), where "pension fund regulation and the structure of the industry [often] puts a premium on liquidity and causes short-termism, at the expense of long-term investment and patient capital.”Australia has seen much interest in privatisation of public functions/assets. This has increased opportunities for private investment in infrastructure. It has, however, raised political discussion about the correct pricing of “monopoly assets”, such as large regional airports and water utilities.The authors also look at some of the recent developments in Canada, China, India and various ASEAN jurisdictions, including Singapore and assess the role played by the city-state in a complex period: "the COVID crisis has accelerated the mutually reinforcing effects of the Age of Empowerment (ESG, Equity and Entrepreneurship/the Venture Capitalist Ethos), the Age of Geoeconomics (intensifying Sino-American coopetition) and Datafied World Economy (Digitalization, Ai, Cybernetics), and Singapore is positioned precisely at the crossroads where these three powerful currents meet.”Some of the financial and geo-economic aspects of the "Post Brexit" era are also analysed. The authors note that HM Government has invited four key maritime powers to join the 47th G7 summit held in Carbis Bay, Cornwall later in the year: Australia, South Korea, India and South Africa, thus "bringing the blue economy to the fore of the global policy agenda".

Asset Allocation and Risk Management in a Fractured World Economy

This paper co-authored by M. Nicolas J. Firzli and David Weeks looks at the notions of long-term asset allocation and the ‘quest for yields’ from the perspective of AUS, European and North American pension investors and board members (trustees), which where discussed at two recent global conferences organised by Singapore Economic Forum (SEF) and the G7 Pensions Summit (G7 P7).Unorthodox central banking policies and their excesses are discussed by the co-authors and other experts, including Baroness Ross Altmann, Member of the House of Lords and Suzanne Bishopric, Adv. Board Member, Singapore Economic Forum (SEF), fmr. CIO, UN Joint Staff Pension Fund (JSPF).The need for asset owners and asset managers alike to adjust to a "fractured world economy" in the "post Brexit era" is gauged with other experts, incl. Torbjörn Hamnmark, Head of Strategic Asset Allocation, Sweden's Tredje AP-Fonden (AP3) and the Rt Hon. Nick Sherry, founder & fmr. minister, AUS Ministry Superannuation & Corp. Law. The underlying geo-economic dynamics are analysed in light of “the ESG revolution" and the increasingly "datafied and non-linear" aspects of the world economy, which may eventually challenge (some of the more) traditional approaches to financial economics. The authors also look at the recent developments in quantitative investment research, deep data analysis, and the "ESG and sustainable finance" space – notably in light of the recent short-selling bans in some jurisdictions (Italy, Spain, France, South Korea etc), in relation to the lingering "Covid Crisis".They incorporate the remarks made by Bridget Realmuto LaPerla, State Street in that regard:“the lenders’ voice is part of their stewardship efforts: [truly] long-term investors think multigenerationally, which aligns well with key ESG characteristics. These shifting dynamics between the security lenders and the borrowers are key" [to understanding the future of finance]Dr Domenico Mignacca, Executive Director, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), shares the preliminary findings of his ongoing research work on “single stock vs equally weighted (EW) and EW leveraged portfolios”, building in part on earlier research conducted with Fabozzi et al. Finally, the Hon. Nick Sherry argues that the ‘Australian Pension Miracle’ can be explained simply by three factors: “smart diversification across asset classes and geographies, higher-than-average exposure to private equity, venture capital and infrastructure investments, and the legal-political autonomy of pension board members (trustees).” The recently published Global Pension Assets study conducted by institutional investment consultants Willis Towers Watson seemed to echo the Hon. Nick Sherry’s assessment: “Australia has the world’s most successful pension system.”

British Universities and Research in the Era of Brexit

British Universities and Research in the Era of Brexit

Британская молодежь и эпоха «брексита»

Британская молодежь и эпоха «брексита»

An Evaluation of the Bilateral Trade between Turkey and Britain in the Post BREXIT Era

Turkey has been in search of deepening relations with its second biggest trade partner, the United Kingdom (UK), since the beginning, but especially after the BREXIT. In this regard, BREXIT has potential to be an accelerating factor on the bilateral relationship between Turkey and the UK, especially following the Free Trade Agreement signed in 2020, even after the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in 2020 that dramatically affected all over the world. The aim of this paper is to analyse the major patterns in bilateral trade between Turkey and the UK as well as the major political developments in order to shed some light to the ways of maximising mutual benefits by exploiting the existing economic (particularly trade) potential between the two parties and especially to investigate whether the BREXIT can have such potential in accelerating the bilateral trade relationship with a comparison with the European Union (EU). In the analysis part, post-BREXIT period of Turkey-UK economic relations is compared with the pre-BREXIT period in terms of total trade, export and import by using original figures and tables. In addition, the comparison of the EU-UK trade relations is done for the relevant periods. In this regard, it is found out that BREXIT with the relevant Free Trade agreement signed between Turkey and the UK has potential to accelerate the existing trade relationship between the parties.

Invisible Poles and their integration into Polish society: changing identities of UK second-generation migrants in the Brexit era

ABSTRACT The article discusses what happens when a ‘critical event’ exposes a migrant population to public view, leading them to reflect on their multiple identities and loyalties. Its focus is on twenty-first century Europe, where societies spread across international borders, offering opportunities for individuals to identify with two or more, and attempt to integrate sufficiently for their own purposes within each. Our case study is British-born Poles; the critical events are the post-2004 wave of Polish migration and the 2016 Brexit referendum. Based on interviews with 28 British-born individuals who felt they had emerged from ‘invisibility’ and become increasingly Polish, we seek to explain their integration trajectories into new Polish society in the UK and society in Poland. These integration experiences are shaped by the complex intersection of generation, wave, community, and historical and geographical setting. Existing research tends to focus on tensions between the post-1945 and post-2004 waves. We show how tensions can occur. However, we also point to instances of successful integration, where British-born Poles update their linguistic and cultural knowledge, form social relations with the new arrivals, and perhaps most importantly, experience life in Poland more intensely than was possible before 2004.

Shaw and Legacy: Introduction

Shaw and Legacy: Introduction

The logic of parliamentary action: Brexit, Early Day Motions, and bolstering the personal vote

ABSTRACT More than 300 Members of Parliament (MPs) found themselves in an awkward position after the vote on Britain’s membership in the EU: They had taken a public stance on Brexit in opposition to their constituents. We investigate whether MPs attempted to bolster their personal vote in response and if this provided electoral protection. Using Early Day Motions (EDMs), we find that MPs supporting Leave in Remain constituencies sponsored more EDMs after Brexit but were also more likely to lose re-election in 2017. Remain supporting MPs in Leave constituencies switched their position on Brexit when voting to trigger Article 50, but did not sponsor more EDMs post-Brexit and did not lose disproportionately compared to Brexit-aligned MPs. We conclude by considering whether the value of the personal vote and incumbency may have declined as affective polarization (Mason, 2018) among the British electorate may be on the rise during the era of Brexit.

Resurecting raciology? Genetic ethnology and pre-1945 anthropological race classification

This article places the current high-profile and controversial scientific project that I call ‘genetic ethnology’ within the same two-century tradition of biologically classifying modern peoples as pre-1945 race anthropology. Similarities in how these two biological projects have combined political and scientific agendas raise questions about the liberalism of genetics and stimulate concerns that genetic constructions of human difference might revive a politics of hate, division and hierarchy. The present article however goes beyond existing work that links modern genetics with race anthropology. It systematically compares their many similar practices and organisational features, showing that both projects were political-scientific syntheses. Studying how the origins, geography, filiations, ‘travels and encounters of our ancestors’ affect ‘current genetic variation’, both seem to have responded to a continuous public demand for biologists to explain the histories of politically significant peoples and give them a scientific basis. I challenge habitual contrasts between apolitical scientific genetics and racist pseudoscience and use race anthropology as a parable for how, in the era of Brexit and Trump, right-wing identity politics might infect genetic ethnology. I argue however that although biology-based identities carry risks of essentialism and determinism, the practices and organisation of classification pose greater political dangers.

Ain’t no black in the (Brexit) Union Jack? Race and empire in the era of Brexit and the Windrush scandal

ABSTRACT This article examines Brexit and the Windrush scandal as twin manifestations of the border anxieties that have structured questions of belonging in contemporary Britain. It discusses Paul Gilroy’s There Ain’t No Black in the Union Jack and Austin Clarke’s Growing Up Stupid Under the Union Jack as two texts which attend to questions of race and empire in the mid-20th century in relation to British national identity. Both Clarke and Gilroy situate the reterritorialization of Britain in the wake of the globalizing history of British Empire which made possible, for instance, the widescale solidarities and conscriptions of World War II. In their attention to the role of empire in the making of Britain, these texts effectively complicate easy demarcations of Britishness and borders and allow us to historicize the conditions under which national boundaries have come to be so central to narratives of British identity.

Brexit and the temporalities of racism in British higher education

Brexit has brought into visibility various strands of racist thinking and practice that have, for many years, simmered under the surface in British life. Discourse about Brexit reveals an enduring nativist and imperialist sentiment that calls into question British liberalism and its purported multiculturalism. Much writing regarding Brexit has focused on issues of class and urban and rural divides related to the disenfranchised white working class. This piece focuses not only on how race/racism (re)emerges as an important category of experience, but also how it mobilizes young people who have been subject to various forms of violent and everyday racialized exclusion in the UK to voice their discontent and demands publicly and, in some cases, collectively within the context of British higher educational institutions. I focus, in particular, on the temporalities these young people invoke to understand and fight against racism in the Brexit era, and the sort of generational divides they make visible.

The sovereignty of the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories in the Brexit era

The sovereignty of the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories in the Brexit era