Our current political situation couldn’t be more interesting. Besides global problems on terrorism, global warming and wars all around the world, there is one major topic in our news: it’s the EU with its internal problems from financing Greece to internal stability. The last mentioned point will be subject of that paper, because Britain is deeply divided about the proposed referendum on United Kingdom’s Membership in the European Union, respectively its opportunities and risks.
During the last election in the UK, Prime Minister David Cameron took the referendum into the manifesto of his Conservative Party because of the annual debates about costs and benefits from the EU and after winning the election he now has to stand up for it. The back then started campaign »Let Britain decide« will now reveal, whether or not the Brits want to stay or not.
t is not unreasonable to think about Britain leaving the EU as, for example, Anthony Forster lists the historically settled problems between Europe and Great Britain in his book-summary like it is inevitable for the UK to leave. And talking about the legality of that referendum is therefore not an option, because Article 50 TEU (Treaties of the European Union) settles the possibility of a voluntary resignation (cf. Streinz et al. 2008: 38-39).
The main part of the seminar paper is going to start, after introducing the topic in the initiation, with an analytically and descriptively chapter of analysing the pros and cons of leaving the EU. The first section of the main part is therefore divided in two parts, the opportunities and the risks. In the course of doing this, the perspective is clearly aligned to the UK itself, so that one should be able to decide, whether or not it will be good for the British people to vote yes or no and which decision they should take. Possible consequences for the EU are completely hidden, because it doesn’t matter for the Brits, who take part in this referendum. In addition to that there will be an analytic part of discussing the meaning of the mentioned opportunities and risks as section two of the main part. Subsequently, in an overview chapter, the advantages and disadvantages are going to be compared to each other to be able to qualify both of them. The final conclusion will take place in Chapter 5, in which the paper will be finished with an outlook and an analysis which option to take.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Initiation
- a. Subject of the paper
- b. Structure of the paper
- c. Methodical Approach
- d. Status of research
- 2. For a more detailed analysis, » Awkwardness and reliability<< by Michael Melcher can be highly recommended. It is an extensive overview of British policy, which is able to explain a lot of its specifics.
- a. Definitions
- 3. Opportunities
- a. Budget
- b. European Restrictions/ Interventions
- i. Economy
- c. Awkward Partner
- d. Human Rights
- 4. Risks
- a. Economy
- i. Finance Sector
- b. Benefits from the EU
- a. Economy
- 5. All you need to do: square the circle?
- 6. Count pros and cons and just decide?
- 7. Final Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This seminar paper analyzes the potential opportunities and risks associated with a proposed referendum on the United Kingdom's membership in the European Union, often referred to as "Brexit." The paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the debate surrounding Brexit, considering arguments for and against the UK leaving the EU. The analysis focuses on the perspectives and concerns of the British people, exploring the potential consequences for the UK's economy, its relationship with the EU, and its role in the global political landscape.
- The complexities of the EU's internal workings and its impact on the UK's political and economic landscape.
- The economic and social implications of the UK leaving the EU, including potential costs and benefits.
- The political and social dynamics within the UK surrounding the Brexit debate and the potential consequences of a referendum on UK-EU relations.
- The historical and contemporary relationship between the UK and the EU, highlighting areas of both cooperation and conflict.
- The role of public opinion and political leadership in shaping the Brexit debate and its potential outcomes.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The seminar paper begins with an introduction that sets the context for the Brexit debate, highlighting its relevance within the current political landscape. The introduction outlines the structure and methodological approach of the paper, emphasizing its focus on the perspectives of the British people and the potential consequences of Brexit for the UK.
The subsequent chapters delve into the opportunities and risks associated with Brexit. Chapter 3 explores potential benefits for the UK, such as greater control over its budget, the ability to navigate European restrictions, and the opportunity to pursue independent foreign policy initiatives. Chapter 4 examines the potential drawbacks of leaving the EU, including economic risks to the UK's financial sector, the loss of access to EU markets, and the implications for UK citizens' rights.
The paper further analyzes the arguments for and against Brexit by comparing the potential advantages and disadvantages, culminating in an overview chapter that provides a comprehensive assessment of the issues at stake. The paper concludes with an analysis of the potential outcomes of the referendum, highlighting the implications for both the UK and the EU.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The seminar paper explores a range of key themes and concepts related to the UK's relationship with the EU and the potential consequences of Brexit. Key keywords include: British politics, European Union, Brexit, referendum, opportunities, risks, economy, finance, human rights, political influence, public opinion, and the historical relationship between the UK and the EU.
- Citar trabajo
- Philipp Freund (Autor), 2015, Opportunities and Risks of the Proposed Referendum on United Kingdom's Membership in the EU (BREXIT), Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/313570
