Date

7-22-2025

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Master of Arts in Public Policy (MAPP)

Chair

Joseph Wiegand

Keywords

Brexit, British politics, British identity, Britain, United Kingdom, Scotland, Scottish-UK relations, European Union, departure, European politics, devolution, Scottish independence

Disciplines

Political Science | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Abstract

This paper takes a real in-depth look at the United Kingdom’s position in the geopolitical landscape before and after one of the most crucial votes in the nation’s history, namely the Brexit vote of 2016. To bring clarity to those who may be new to UK politics, it is important to note that Brexit is an abbreviated term for Britain’s exit, or departure, from the European Union (EU). This paper explores the position of the United Kingdom, or Britain, in the world before and after its departure from the European Union. Throughout the course of this paper, the following questions are addressed: What were the main factors that triggered the vote for and against Brexit across the United Kingdom? How was the conflict between British and EU laws dealt with, and what steps were taken by the UK to work towards finding healthy solutions to such conflicts? And finally, what plans were made by the UK to promote good trade partnership with the EU such that the relationship between the UK and the EU are still maintained after Brexit? As these questions are answered one by one, the paper also explores strategies that the UK can use in order to uphold its influence as a European entity despite the fact that it is no longer part of the union.

In addition, this paper takes a look at the significance of regional divides and the devolution of powers, why they are very crucial in the Brexit debate. One of the events that brought about great kerfuffle over the UK’s role as a unified country despite its differences in regions is the consideration for Scotland to gain independence from the UK as a whole. Although the issue of Scottish independence is no longer a big deal in the UK today, it is still considered a crucial aspect of the Brexit debate, seeing that there was a time before Brexit when Scotland felt it has been left out by the rest of the UK. The consideration for Scottish independence at that time sparked major polarization across the UK, thus provoking intense struggle for maintaining a unified British identity. Now that the UK is in a different political era compared to the time when Brexit was planned, voted for and instituted, the problem lies in how the country can grow to build and foster peace and healthy diplomacy in a world so full of division and extreme polarization.

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