This paper will research the reasons for the result of the referendum, with a focus on the influence of mass media, and whether the benefits of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union outweigh the disadvantages of leaving, against the background of the consequences that might follow with the decision of the UK.
After the Second World War ended in 1945, many cities, towns and villages across Europe were completely destroyed by aerial bombing and heavy artillery, which led all in all to a huge suffering of the citizens all over Europe. A common expression after 1945 was “Never again”, symbolising the desire to prevent another world war and such a devastation all over the globe, but also especially in Europe. To make this idea come true, the six European countries Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands founded the ‘European Coal and Steel Community’ in 1950, which was the beginning of a growing supranational confederation later becoming the guarantee of peace between the European countries on their own continent, today known as ‘European Union’. Back in 1973, when the ‘European Communities’ still was in its initial stage, the United Kingdom, containing of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, officially joined the ‘EC’, raising the number of member states to nine.
The European Union has since then changed a lot, allowing not only goods to be transported inside the EU without customs costs, but also allowing the citizens of the member states to move around without any border restrictions. Despite these and further advantages, many inhabitants of the UK felt uncomfortable with the EU charing billions of pounds a year for imposing too many rules and restrictions on the UK’s business, which is not worth the benefits in their opinion. In addition, many citizens shared the opinion that the UK should take back full control of its borders and reduce the number of immigrants on their island. Consequently, David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the UK, introduced the EU Referendum Act in 2015, which included a plebiscite to decide whether the UK will stay in the European Union or not. The vote itself took place on the 23rd June 2016 in the United Kingdom, having had the result of about 52% of the voters having voted to leave the European Union, forming the absolute majority.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction and Main Question
2. Reasons for the Result
2.1 The ‘Vote Leave’ Campaign
3. Advantages and Disadvantages
3.1 Advantages of leaving the EU
3.2 Disadvantages of leaving the EU
4. Questionnaire on the British EU Referendum
4.1 Result of the Questionnaire in the UK
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the underlying reasons for the outcome of the 2016 British EU referendum, specifically analyzing the role of media influence and the potential economic and political consequences of the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union.
- Historical context of the UK's integration and subsequent decision to leave the EU.
- Analysis of political campaigns, specifically the strategies of the 'Vote Leave' movement.
- Evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages associated with 'Brexit'.
- Empirical assessment of public opinion through a conducted questionnaire.
- Critical discussion of future prospects for the UK, including potential impacts on sovereignty and internal unity.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 The ‘Vote Leave’ Campaign
Generally, there is a hand full of different factors having led to the result of the UK leaving the European Union, which ranges from the immigration and refugees crisis to the British pursuit of sovereignty and the desire to not be determined by Brussels anymore. However, the processing of making these skeptically viewed topics affect the inhabitants to decide for their referendum vote proceeds in the two campaign’s advertisement agenda. Therefore, one of the reasons for the fairly unexpected, but also very close result of a slim majority having voted against a remaining in the European Union, was the great influence of many different polarising politicians and campaigns on partly uncertain and easy-influenceable groups of inhabitants. Both vote options - ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ - had their own official campaigns - 'Britain Stronger in Europe’ and ‘Vote Leave’.
These campaigns had the task to spread their political view and opinions regarding the referendum in the British population, in favour of convincing as many citizens as possible to vote for their campaign’s aim. The impact, that a wide range from advertisement to propaganda could have on such an important referendum, is proven by the conflict between both campaigns, which created a widespread incertitude all over the electorate. This is being underpinned by more than 40% of the voters, who have made their decision - whether they have voted for ‘Remain’ or ‘Leave’ - not until one month before the actual referendum or even later. In addition, Google reported, that searches for "What happens if we leave the EU" had more than tripled around eight hours after the polls closed on the referendum date.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction and Main Question: Provides the historical background of the European Union and the UK's entry, setting the stage for the 2016 referendum and defining the research scope.
2. Reasons for the Result: Analyzes the political climate leading up to the referendum, with a specific focus on the 'Vote Leave' campaign's strategies and their influence on public opinion.
3. Advantages and Disadvantages: Explores the potential impacts of Brexit, weighing arguments regarding sovereignty and economic savings against risks like trade deficits and reduced global influence.
4. Questionnaire on the British EU Referendum: Presents primary research gathered through a poll regarding participant perceptions of media influence and their views on the referendum outcome.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, asserting that while economic and political uncertainty remains, the author maintains a critical view of the Brexit decision and its long-term implications.
Keywords
Brexit, European Union, UK Referendum, Vote Leave, Remain, Sovereignty, Immigration, Economics, Public Opinion, Media Influence, Political Campaign, Trade, Article 50, Political Disintegration, European Integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the reasons behind the UK's decision to leave the European Union in 2016, specifically examining how media strategies and political narratives influenced the electorate.
What are the central thematic areas of the research?
The core themes include the historical background of the EU, the methodologies of political campaigns, the economic and political consequences of Brexit, and public sentiment toward the union.
What is the central research question?
The study seeks to identify why the referendum resulted in a 'Leave' vote, focusing on media influence and whether the benefits of leaving outweigh the potential disadvantages.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper combines a literature-based analysis of political and economic theories with a qualitative poll conducted in schools to gauge public opinion on the referendum process.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It provides an in-depth look at the 'Vote Leave' campaign, compares arguments for and against leaving the EU, and reviews the empirical data from the author's own questionnaire.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Brexit, European Union, sovereignty, media influence, and political campaigns.
How did media influence the outcome of the referendum according to the author?
The author argues that the 'Vote Leave' campaign successfully used aggressive rhetoric and misinformation to shift the debate away from complex economic facts toward emotional issues like sovereignty and immigration.
Why does the author consider the 'Vote Leave' claims misleading?
The author highlights that claims, such as the £350 million weekly membership fee, were inaccurate and were primarily used as advertisements to manipulate public opinion rather than present fiscal reality.
What potential long-term risks are identified for the UK?
The paper identifies risks such as economic instability, reduced geopolitical influence, and the potential for internal disintegration, specifically citing Scotland and Northern Ireland.
What is the author's personal conclusion regarding the referendum?
The author concludes that the disadvantages of leaving the EU outweigh the benefits, criticizing the lack of participation among younger voters and the deceptive nature of the winning campaign.
- Citation du texte
- David Kirchbach (Auteur), 2016, United Kingdom EU Referendum Act of 2015. Reasons and whether the benefits of the UK leaving the EU outweigh the disadvantages, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1127641
