Brexit futures: Between a model and a martyr: An addendum to ‘Brexit and EU Legitimation’

Abstract

Brexit has a habit of rendering research redundant rapidly. Since I wrote ‘Brexit and EU Legitimation: Martyr for the EU Cause?’ (published in New Perspectives vol. 27 [3]), Boris Johnson has won a large majority on the back of his promise to ‘Get Brexit Done’ and his ability to pass a withdrawal agreement. As such the chances of a no-deal Brexit have receded (for now). This has not rendered my analysis obsolete, but reflecting upon Johnson’s slogan has led me to realise that my analysis could be broadened. In this addendum, I flesh out what is left ambiguous in the article and develop a more holistic framework for analysing the discursive effects of Brexit. In doing so, I make the argument that for the European Union (EU), Brexit will never be ‘done’, at least for the EU. Instead, Britain’s fortunes look set to become a bellwether for soft Eurosceptics considering turning hard. The extent to which Britain is perceived to bask in the ‘sunlit uplands’ or, conversely, to suffer economic and/or political disaster as a consequence of leaving the EU will inform whether Britain is used as a ‘model’ or a ‘martyr’ at any given time. Thus, Britain’s fortunes have thus become inextricably linked to the EU.