Historical and social origins of British euroscepticism
https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6339-2022-4-33-48
Abstract
This article explores the reasons why the United Kingdom joined the process of the European integration in 1973 and factors of Euroscepticism that led to Brexit in 2016. The article shows that the main reason to join the process of the European integration was the desire to maximize economic gains for the country. However, very soon the question of deepening of the European integration became the ‘hostage’ of intraparty fights in the two main British parties. Irrespective of the party affiliation, the British Prime Ministers preferred to keep control over their party and expand their electoral base by appealing to Eurosceptics rather than deepening political integration with mainland Europe. In other words, the foreign policy and especially relations with Europe depended very much on internal politics and party mood. Even the decision to hold a referendum on leaving European Union has been the outcome of intraparty struggle within the Conservative Party.
About the Authors
S. V. Lebedev
Russian State Humanitarian University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Sergei V. Lebedev, Cand. of Sci. (Political Studies)
bld. 6, Miusskaya Sq., Moscow, 125047
R. I. Blagoveshchenskii
Saint Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Roman I. Blagoveshchenskii
bld. 1/3, Smolny St., Saint Petersburg, 191060
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Review
For citations:
Lebedev S.V., Blagoveshchenskii R.I. Historical and social origins of British euroscepticism. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin Series "Political Science. History. International Relations". 2022;(4):33-48. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6339-2022-4-33-48
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