About Brexit, Nationalism(s) and Polarization

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The polarized debates around Brexit reflect scepticism about the legitimacy of the European Union and its value to Britain, as well as contestation over specific EU policies and activities. There has been less focus on how these debates also reflect a form of British and/or English nationalism and interplay with other types of nationalism on the UK territory (and especially in Scotland). Brexit and more recent post-Brexit discussions have also revealed other tensions within the United Kingdom, where different areas of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales demonstrated different attitudes towards Europe, the referendum and its aftermath, also reinforcing the debate on the constitutional future of the UK, including a possible federalisation.

But the politicization of Brexit goes even further. Within Britain, Brexit inaugurated new political identities of Remainers and Leavers, which go beyond the initial Brexit debate but also appear in debates on immigration, diversity, social policy, etc. The fundamental opposition of these two groups created and/or reflected a new kind of politics of division, driven and shaped by party politics, mainstream and alternative media, and ordinary citizens. And while the Brexit discourse obviously highlighted the levels of Euroscepticism, nationalism (and even xenophobia) within Britain, it also drew attention to anti-British sentiment and Euroscepticism within Europe.
 
This collection curates research on the politicization of Brexit on a national or international level. Articles are encouraged to consider the breadth of political, social, economic, cultural and legal motivations underpinning Brexit attitudes and identities. Topics may include but are not limited to: 

• Brexit and (English, Scottish, Irish, British, …) nationalism 
• Brexit and the constitutional future of the UK (federalisation, …)
• Representation of Europe in UK political discourse and of the UK in European political discourse 
• Brexit and immigration
• The cultural politics of racism in the Brexit conjuncture
• Social media as a site of politicization over Brexit 
• Representation of Europe in British media and of the UK in European media 
• The economic and legal consequences of Brexit 
• Populism in the Leave campaign 
• Attitudes towards Britain both from within and without 
• Changes in the discourse around Brexit in the post-Brexit context 

Submissions using qualitative and quantitative methods are welcomed, as are reflections on methodology related to studying Brexit and its consequences. 
 
This collection is associated with the Political Communications gateway. 
 
Keywords: Brexit, nationalism, federalism, constitutional reform, Euroscepticism, European Union, EU scepticism, xenophobia, polarization, partisan politics, identity politics, EU politics, referendum, diplomacy, populism, social media, political campaigns 

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