The 2016 UK referendum on continued membership of the European Union (EU), which concluded in a victory for the Leave campaign, has been argued by many to have been less a debate on the pros and cons of membership, but rather a proxy for discussions about race and migration.
Many believe that “imperial nostalgia” was mobilised and was a leading factor in the success of the Leave vote, with 52% of the population voting in its favour. It became widely theorised by academic commentators, with the argument that many Leave voters were partial to imperial patterns of thought, consciously or not, and that the terms on which the creation of the EU referendum took place are indicative of the UK struggling to place itself in the world post-Empire.
However, it is thought that “imperial nostalgia” was oftentimes combined with and in lieu of “imperial amnesia”, with individuals longing for an independent, self-sustaining, homogenous Britain, that never truly existed, and how this train of thought was used to campaigner and politician’s advantage.
This essay first explores how imperial nostalgia was mobilised by pro-Brexiters in the referendum and how they used colonial terms in their favour, but also how imperial nostalgia and anti-imperialism was mobilised by those in support of Remain.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Imperial Nostalgia in the Leave Campaign
3. Commonwealth Ties and Target Voters
4. Remain Campaign and Anti-Imperialism
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This essay examines how imperial nostalgia and anti-imperialism were mobilized by both the Leave and Remain campaigns during the 2016 UK referendum on EU membership, exploring how colonial rhetoric influenced political discourse and voter perception.
- The mobilization of "imperial nostalgia" by pro-Brexit politicians.
- The use of colonial imagery and the concept of "control" in political branding.
- Analysis of voting patterns among BAME communities in relation to Commonwealth ties.
- The counter-mobilization of anti-imperialist arguments by the Remain campaign.
- The role of historical figures, such as Winston Churchill, in contemporary political narratives.
Excerpt from the Book
How were imperial nostalgia and anti-imperialism mobilised, and by whom, in the pro-/anti-Brexit campaigns in the UK?
The 2016 UK referendum on continued membership of the European Union (EU), which concluded in a victory for the Leave campaign, has been argued by many to have been less a debate on the pros and cons of membership, but rather a proxy for discussions about race and migration (Bhambra, 2017). Many believe that “imperial nostalgia” was mobilised and was a leading factor in the success of the Leave vote, with 52% of the population voting in it’s favour (Choudry, 2021). It became widely theorised by academic commentators, with the argument that many Leave voters were partial to imperial patterns of thought, consciously or not, and that the terms on which the creation of the EU referendum took place are indicative of the UK struggling to place itself in the world post-Empire (Dunin-Wasowicz, 2017). However, it is thought that “imperial nostalgia” was oftentimes combined with and in lieu of “imperial amnesia”, with individuals longing for an independent, self-sustaining, homogenous Britain, that never truly existed, and how this train of thought was used to campaigner and politician’s advantage. In this essay, I will be first exploring how imperial nostalgia was mobilised by pro-Brexiters in the referendum and how they used colonial terms in their favour, but will also be exploring how imperial nostalgia and anti-imperialism was mobilised by those in support of Remain.
One of the key phrases used by those arguing for exit from the EU was “we want our country back”, alongside the Leave campaign making “take back control” a widely used slogan amongst its supporters. The phrase “take back control” is an expression particularly indicative of imperial nostalgia, as it could be interpreted as representing a desire for the “control” that Britain once had as an empire and an imperial state.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on imperial nostalgia and anti-imperialism within the 2016 EU referendum narrative.
2. Imperial Nostalgia in the Leave Campaign: Analyzes how pro-Brexit politicians utilized colonial terminology and symbols to equate EU membership with a loss of sovereignty.
3. Commonwealth Ties and Target Voters: Explores the strategy of appealing to BAME voters through the promise of renewed economic cooperation with Commonwealth nations.
4. Remain Campaign and Anti-Imperialism: Discusses how the Remain movement utilized anti-imperialist critiques to challenge the "Empire 2.0" rhetoric of the Leave camp.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the complex interplay between imperial history and contemporary political identity, urging a nuanced approach to interpreting the referendum results.
Keywords
Brexit, Imperial Nostalgia, British Empire, EU Referendum, Colonialism, Commonwealth, Anti-Imperialism, Migration, Nationalism, BAME voters, Identity, Sovereignty, Political Campaigning, British Politics, Post-Imperialism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the mobilization of imperial nostalgia and anti-imperialist rhetoric during the 2016 UK referendum on EU membership.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include colonial legacy, political branding, voter demographics, and the selective use of history to influence public opinion.
What is the core research question?
The paper asks how imperial nostalgia and anti-imperialism were mobilized, and by whom, in the pro- and anti-Brexit campaigns in the UK.
Which scientific/analytical method is employed?
The author employs qualitative political analysis and discourse analysis, examining campaign rhetoric, political statements, and cited academic literature and media sources.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The work covers the rhetoric of the Leave campaign, the appeal to Commonwealth ties, the counter-arguments from the Remain side, and the historical context of British post-imperial identity.
Which keywords best describe the work?
Brexit, Imperial Nostalgia, British Empire, EU Referendum, Colonialism, Commonwealth, Anti-Imperialism, Migration, Nationalism, and Identity.
How did Leave campaigners use the concept of an "EU colony" to support their arguments?
They argued that being part of the EU was equivalent to being a colonized state, thus framing Brexit as a necessary step toward achieving independence and regaining control.
Why does the author argue that the BAME voter statistics during the Brexit referendum are significant?
These statistics are used to challenge the assumption that all those interested in the Commonwealth are necessarily nostalgic for the British Empire, highlighting a distinction between cultural connection and colonial longing.
How does the Remain campaign attempt to invoke imperial legacy?
The author notes instances where Remainers, such as David Cameron, invoked the memory of Winston Churchill to argue for the benefits of remaining in the EU, effectively using the same historical figures the Leave camp sought to claim.
- Quote paper
- Rosie Tett (Author), 2022, How were imperial nostalgia and anti-imperialism mobilised, and by whom, in the pro-/anti-Brexit campaigns in the UK?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1359916
