Oliver, Tim (2015) To be or not to be in Europe: is that the question? Britain's European question and an in/out referendum. International Affairs, 91 (1). pp. 77-91. ISSN 0020-5850
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
The idea of holding an in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union has increasingly become a norm of British politics, an act seen as a necessary step for the country to answer what David Cameron described as the ‘European question in British politics’. A referendum, it is hoped, will cleanse British politics of a poisonous debate about Europe and democratically sanction a new stable UK–EU relationship, whether the UK stays in or leaves. Such hopes expect more of a referendum than it can provide. The European question is a multifaceted one and whatever the result of a referendum it is unlikely to address underlying questions that will continue to cause problems for UK–EU relations and Britain's European debate. A referendum can be a step forward in better managing the relationship and debate, but it is only that: a single step, after which further steps will be needed. Coming to terms with the European question and bringing stability to Britain's relations with the EU—whether in or outside the EU—will require comprehensive, longer-term changes which a referendum can help trigger but in no way guarantee.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(IS... |
| Additional Information: | © 2015 The Author(s). International Affairs © 2015 The Royal Institute of International Affair |
| Divisions: | IGA: LSE IDEAS |
| Subjects: | J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Apr 2015 14:36 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Oct 2024 04:57 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/61509 |
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