The Sliding West: Populism and Religion as Challenges to the Liberal Order
Executive Summary
In the current state of political affairs in the United Kingdom, the in/out referendum is a fundamental necessity. The divisions within the main political parties regarding the UK–EU relationship have existed for quite some time and are inherently adverse to the interests of the United Kingdom. Prime Minister David Cameron has now achieved his long sought-after and hard-fought reforms.
The question that remains, however, is whether the reform agreement will be enough to quell the rise of Euroscepticism. Although the aim of Euroscepticism is to bring control back to Britain in order to make the country stronger, it could very well lead to a separation of the nation states comprising the United Kingdom and ultimately leave the UK in a much weaker position.
Thus, while the referendum is meant to be about UK–EU relations and the battle between Euroscepticism and those who are pro-Europe, it could very well end up as an assessment of the nature of the United Kingdom itself.
Publication Date
July 2016
Page Count
16
Ahmet Evin
Ahmet Evin is a Senior Scholar in Istanbul Policy Center and Professor at Sabancı University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Jean Monnet chair at Sabanci University.
aevin@sabanciuniv.edu
Megan Gisclon
Megan Gisclon is the Managing Editor and Researcher at Istanbul Policy Center. Her research interests include U.S.-Turkey relations, civil-military relations, and international order.
megan.gisclon@sabanciuniv.edu