The Brexit Referendum and the Crisis of 'Extreme Centrism'
German Law Journal (2016) 17 (s). pp. 131-142
13 Pages Posted: 11 Dec 2017
Date Written: July 1, 2016
Abstract
The result of the Brexit referendum sends shockwaves through the political fabric of the UK, Europe and beyond. It is the latest instance in a series of anti-systemic shocks to hit the EU, but will almost certainly not be the last, as discontent with the status quo and a disconnected elite continues unabated across the Continent (and is replicated across the Atlantic), and the European Union provides a convenient target for voters to express their anger and resentment. Although the crisis, as any other, opens up opportunity, it is more likely to be seized by right-wing nationalist parties.This, however, can no longer be dismissed as an unfortunate and contingent set of political turning points: it is intimately connected to the current trajectory of the Union itself.
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation