Chapter 27

Chapter Summary

The UK’s historical relationship with the EU cannot be understood without understanding the legacy of the British Empire and the process of decolonisation after the post-war peri-od. The country’s membership of the EU has been marked by domestic division over the question of Europe in both the Conservative and Labour parties. Immigration and race has become closely connected to the issue of European integration, promoted especially by the tabloid press and UKIP. While the economic crisis of 2008 and the extreme cuts to the social welfare system contributed to the vote, many middle class and affluent voters also supported Leave. Furthermore, BME voters were much more likely to vote to Remain than white workers. Attitudes to race, immigration and social liberal values also shaped the referendum result

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of Britain’s historical relationship with the EU
• Assess the impact of colonialism and decolonisation in shaping Britain’s relationship with the EU
• Analyse the role of race, class, and gender in the vote to leave the EU

Quizzes

Test your knowledge with the Chapter 27 quizzes!

Quiz

Question 1

What year did the UK officially leave the EU?

2016

2017

2020

2018

2022

None

Question 2

Brexit supporters made what key argument about Britain’s role after leaving the EU?

Britain could become a leading force in a Global Britain” strategy”

Britain would become a part of the United States

Britain would align more closely with China

Britain would adopt the Euro as its currency

Britain would be able to rejoin the EU in the future

None

Question 3

Which British prime Minister promised the 2016 EU referendum?

Tony Blair

Gordon Brown

Theresa May

Boris Johnson

David Cameron

None

Question 4

The concept of Anglo-British exceptionalism in EU debates is best described as:

The belief that Britain was uniquely suited to lead the EU

The idea that Britain’s history and identity made it fundamentally different from Europe

A policy of full integration within EU institutions

A focus on increasing British involvement in EU decision-making

A rejection of all trade agreements with European countries

None

Question 5

Which treaty formally introduced Article 50, the legal mechanism that allowed the UK to leave the EU

Maastricht Treaty

Treaty of Rome

Lisbon Treaty

Treaty of Paris

Treaty of Nice

None

Question 6

What role did the tabloid press play in shaping public attitudes towards Brexit?

It was generally neutral and avoided discussing Brexit

It supported Remain and encouraged pro-European sentiment

It was primarily focused on economic arguments rather than cultural identity

It played a key role in promoting Euroscepticism and anti-immigration narratives

It avoided coverage of Brexit and focused only on domestic policies

None

Question 7

How did decolonisation impact Britain’s relationship with the EU?

It strengthened Britain’s ties to the Commonwealth, delaying European integration

It had no impact on Britain’s decision to join or leave the EU

It led Britain to pursue immediate membership in the EU

It caused Britain to adopt the Euro earlier than other countries

It resulted in Britain leading EU expansion into Africa

None

Question 8

The Maastricht Treaty, signed in formally established the EU.

Question 9

The phrase Take Back Control” was a key slogan of the campaign during the Brexit referendum.”

Question 10

The Northern Ireland Protocol was introduced to avoid a hard border between and after Brexit

Time’s up

Discussion Questions

1. Britain’s decision to opt out of early European integration, then later join the EEC in 1973, and finally leave the EU in 2020, reflects its historically complex relationship with Europe. What key factors shaped each of these decisions, and how did Britain’s imperial history and national identity influence them?
2. Studies show that attitudes towards immigration, race, and multiculturalism played a significant role in the 2016 referendum result. To what extent did race, national identity, and social class contribute to the decision to leave the EU, and how did political campaigns use these issues?

Weblinks

UK in a Changing Europe – A research project analyzing the impact of Brexit and the UK’s evolving relationship with the EU. (https://ukandeu.ac.uk/)  

What UK Thinks: EU – A data portal tracking UK public opinion on EU issues. (https://www.whatukthinks.org/eu/)  

Eurobarometer – A survey platform tracking public opinion across EU member states, including the UK. (https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/screen/home)  

European Parliament – The official site for the European Parliament, providing information on elections and legislative processes. (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/)  

LSE Europe Blog – An academic blog offering analysis on EU politics and Brexit. (https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/) 

Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l’Europe (CVCE) – A digital archive providing research and documents on European integration. (https://www.cvce.eu/en/epublications/eisc)  

Runnymede Trust – Publications on Race Equality in Britain – A research organization analyzing how UK-EU policies affect racial equality. (https://www.runnymedetrust.org/currentPublications.html)  

Flashcards

Refresh your knowledge of key terms with this chapter’s flashcards.