THE POLITICS OF EUROPEAN UNION AND NATIONAL INTEREST: A PERSPECTIVE FROM BREXIT

Abstract

This work investigated politics of European Union and national interests: A Perspective from Brexit. The work is situated on intergovernmentalism as a theoretical framework. The method of this study is qualitative and data were sourced from secondary sources and analyzed done through content analysis. The study looked at the socio-political and economic drivers pushing for Brexit. It was discovered that issues of preserving the sovereignty of the United Kingdom, their national identity, jobs and using British money for Britons and lack of control of their borders which has heightened immigration into United Kingdom. This influenced the outcome of the referendum. The study also discovered among other things that the absence of UK in the EU will impact EU in negative terms as UK soft power and liberalization is an asset to the EU. For the UK, it will be hit hard due to the enormous trade benefits which it derives from EU membership coupled with the fact the EU provides cover for the UK to leverage in global economy. These have raised concerns about the possibility of EU integration in the absence of a strong balancer in the union. The study found that the national interests of UK are the propelling force for the Brexit.