Our World in 2018

Brexit Britain whose only major trade deal
is the exchange of its regained sovereignty
.
Aside from this frustration of these
people, the prospect of Brexit has yet
another drawback. It has left another crack
in the project ‘ever closer Union’.
It has underlined the big socio-economic
discrepancies between the different
states, and the increasing poverty and
gaps between classes within them. People
cannot see the bigger picture and plan for
the long-term viability of their country, if they
cannot put food on the table. That is why the
catastrophic scenarios about the ‘reaction of
the markets’ to Brexit fell on deaf ears. When
Professor Anand Menon tried explaining to
an audience in Newcastle, that Brexit would
cause a decrease in the UK GDP, a woman
yelled back at him ‘That’s your bloody GDP,
not mine’.
Some say that those people who
voted Out have parochial views, i.e.
older generations or people with no
.A
younger generations and those with higher
educational qualifications voted Remain.
However, the demographics of the Brexit
vote only tell one part of the story. The
other part of the story is that, apart from the
forceful and at times deceitful campaigning
for Brexit, there has been a continuous
collapse of the European ideal.
T
distrust towards the EU, has been one of
the main reasons for this outcome in the
referendum. Euroscepticism is partly a side
Europe, but it is also a defence mechanism
by peoples against an amorphous construct
and economism. Many Europeans, including
a lot of British people, are close to their
national identity. They relate to it and they
understand themselves through it. However,
E.
The EU does not inspire loyalty anymore – it
has lost its glow.
In any case, 2018 will open the road for
the political and economic developments
OUR WORLD | 2018
Foteini
Kalantzi
Foteini Kalantzi is a
Researcher at the
Greek Diaspora
Project in SEESOX.
She received her
PhD in International
Relations from
University of
Macedonia and
carried out part
of her research in
Freie Universitaet
Berlin. Her thesis
‘Securitisation
of migration in
Greece’ examined
how discourse and
political practices
contributed to
the socio-political
construction of
migration as a
security threat
between 2000-2014.
EUROPE’S FUTURE
everyone has been waiting for. At present
position for the UK emerging after the dust
settles. Since the EU is the largest trading
partner for Britain, there will probably be
a bespoke trade agreement between the
two parties. While a trade deal is feasible,
as Emanuel Macron said, full access to the
single market (including access to the EU for
K
accepting its rules is not feasible.
Brexit Secretary David Davies said that he
wishes to secure a free-trade deal with
to as ‘Canada plus plus plus’; however, EU
negotiators have stressed many a times that
Britain will not be allowed to “cherry-pick”
sectors. This is a reminder that the British
has been the deal throughout the history of
the EU. Since 1973, the UK has opted-out
from several important areas, for example
the EMU, the Schengen area, the Justice and
LT
and the Charter of Fundamental Rights
(where the UK obtained an exemption with
the signature of a protocol).
Despite the love-hate relationship
between the Continent and Albion, there are
constant reminders from the EU that it is not
too late for the UK to change its mind. The
President of the European Council, Donald
T
of heart. Our hearts are still open for you".
However, there are no signs of returning
from the state of limbo the country lives in.
While the drama of Brexit is unfolding at
its pedestrian pace within the microcosm of
Europe, 2018 will convey the realisation that
there is only one way forward for Europeans
as the realities of the fast-paced world
progress - climate change, massive migratory
changes in the geopolitical and global
economic power game.
This way forward is for Europeans to work
together without divisive rhetoric and shorttermism,
to not only make Europe more
competitive in world markets, but also more
humane and democratic.
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