Brexit

As an exemplary and inaugural contribution to the discussion of responsible politics and social reaction, I'd like to discuss the Brexit vote. Firstly, it's important to notice the powerful ascension of turbulent factions amid controversial situations such as referendums. Brexit is a key example of this. Two partisan groups have arose in the last several months: a radical socialist-democratic proponent from the Labor Party under opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn and the right-wing Conservatives under Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Both political parties offer their versions of the best-case scenario for the United Kingdom to disembark from the European Union. Corbyn is interested in nationalizing the country which can have massive consequences for business and commerce, whereas Johnson's firm Brexit approach is causing future uncertainty for English companies in doing business with EU-Members. It's important to note that Johnson isn't the first person favoring the UK to leave the EU. This has been going on since the 1970s. The UK has been skeptical about an economic unified Europe already at its infancy in the 1950s.

No matter how its goes, a majority Brexit decision will have logistical ramifications. It will cost British companies more money to deliver goods and services to international destinations. Free market trade will have plenty of barriers to overcome making the whole concept of Brexit rather inefficient. This appears extremely unattractive to massive corporations in the UK who are merely interested in profit-making. An uncertain future is absolutely taboo for companies who are interested in expanding their sphere of influence beyond national borders. Not only for companies but also for the stock exchange and currency. They want to avoid this nightmare. Furthermore, economic deals and decisions will have to be made with key economic powerhouses such as the United States of America, China, and Germany which will take a lot of time to implement. Regardless of the issues, Johnson sees a worthwhile attempt to make the UK completely independent and sovereign.

There are many supporters for Brexit and their talking points aren't entirely far-fetched. For instance, many citizens are concerned about the migrant crisis in Europe. Time and time again, boats and ships of migrants from destitute nations are being intercepted by naval warships and commercial vessels. The tremendous influx of migrants and refugees have caused domestic problems in respective countries. In these nations, it's important to note a political shift. In countries such as Austria, Hungary, Italy, Germany and France, the growing resentment towards migrants have translated to a significant rise in right-wing populist movements. The most famous of them are the Front National in France under Marine Le Pen, the Fidesz in Hungary under Victor Orbán, Matteo Salvini in Italy and the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands under Geert Wilders to name a few. In these countries, there have been internal struggles to accommodate refugees from impoverished and unstable countries and have burdened the nation's treasury. Many of the above mentioned populist politicians are Eurosceptics including Johnson and his supporting base. They don't believe their countries are responsible for accepting refugees and their supporters agree with them.

This issue has brought up the controversial issue of racism and discrimination in England. Many Brexit supporters want to see their country walk away because "England for the English only". Many immigrants have been calling the country home for decades and tensions between them and the English have rose. To isolate themselves from the rest of the world is a terrible idea, since immigration represents the building blocks of modernity and progress. To cause problems with them is ridiculous and it will hurt them in the long run.

Another point of contention is the fiscal contribution each member country of the EU has to make to the continental organization. Many feel the payment can be best invested domestically rather than with an economically unified entity. For this reason, I firmly believe Johnson and his contemporaries are favoring a more realist method in pushing Brexit. It’s an isolationist agenda which sees to protect the country from any outside dangers. Whether this has anything to do with fear-mongering is always up for debate.

In the end, a successful Brexit can have ramifications for the entire EU. Secessionist movements will feel emboldened to rekindle their separatist agendas and move ahead with consequential independence campaigns and votes. It's only a matter of time if a successful Brexit can really espouse a gradual breakup of the union. Perhaps they will see how meddlesome it was to get something like this off the ground which will act as a deterrent to anyone who wishes to have more independence from the Eurozone.

As of May, 2021, the UK is officially out of the Eurozone. As I predicted earlier, Scotland is reenergizing their resolve to walk away from the UK. Essentially, it is a good idea because whatever England decided in London, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland will have no choice but to follow suit. These autonomous regions do have a say in parliament, but they are terribly underrepresented. They will never muster up enough support for their constituents back home for any cause they come up with. Even N. Ireland is floating the idea of withdrawing from the pact since it has caused a logistical nightmare at their ports, especially for truck drivers making deliveries in impacted areas. It would be wonderful to see N. Ireland reunite with the rest of Ireland, so the entire Island can be one nation again. I would love to see that and I am sure many more will too.

The Brexit campaign has costed English taxpayers billions of pounds, lost income, job and business losses since many major companies have strong business ties with countries within the Eurozone. Also, many financial institutions have left England and set up shop in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The UK has been a part of Europe economically for centuries, even more so with the EU since the end of the Second World War. To push them away will have long-term economic, political, and cultural consequences for them.