Aside from immigration, Britain’s status and (self-)perception were important factors in the vote for Brexit.
For many, the EU was seen as a quasi-dictatorship that had enslaved the freedom-loving country of Great Britain. A perception that is hardly compatible with reality. Decisions in the Union must be taken either by large majorities or unanimously. Legislative power is also divided. Most laws require a majority in both the European Parliament, whose members are directly elected by the people of Europe, and the Council of Ministers.
The latter brings together members of national governments. If the Germans among the readers find the procedure vaguely familiar, it is because the German republic runs in a similar fashion, with the Bundestag and Bundesrat. Readers from other democracies may also notice parallels with the legislative procedures in their countries. The division of the legislature and the use of different majority procedures are, like many other EU procedures and institutions, part of the principles of modern democracies. And they can often be traced back to achievements of British democracy that were subsequently exported to the world.
Why are many Britons nevertheless bothered by the EU (Besides the ignorance of many about how the EU works and that the UK helped shape and agree to all the procedures)? On the one hand, it has to do with the development of British institutions over the last 150-200 years, which is a wonderful topic for another post; on the other hand, the self-perception of the British comes into play.
I also noticed this self-perception among those who think that leaving the EU is complete nonsense. One conversation in particular remains in my mind: shortly before the planned exit from the EU in March 2019, I was at a party and spoke with an English doctor educated at a good school and an excellent university about the world. It was an intellectually stimulating conversation.
But when we started talking about the ongoing Brexit negotiations and the future relationship between the UK and the EU, he said: "What I don't understand is, why doesn't the EU just give us what we want?" Specifically, this meant access to the European single market without being subject to European jurisdiction, without compensation payments, without otherwise open borders, etc.
Somewhat surprised, I replied that the concessions are not acceptable to the EU. If the UK were to get away with cherry-picking, other EU states would try something similar. Some states would abandon democratic standards, but would still want to receive subsidies. Others would just stop paying them. In short, the EU would cease to exist. As in any society, the participants must commit to each other, show consideration and respect the general rules.
My counterpart was not impressed. And the conversation devolved into a discussion with a little child.
Him: But we want it.
Me: Yes, but the EU wants something else.
Him: Yes, and…?
Me: You want something, the EU wants something else. Therefore, negotiations take place. Compromises are made to reach an agreement.
I didn’t point out that the EU is in an much better negotiating position and therefore has less need to compromise.
Him: No, we don't want compromises, why doesn't the EU give us what we want?
Me: Ok, in other words, why should the EU give you Brits what you want?
Him: Because we want it.
Argh...
Me: Why? Do your wishes matter more than those of the EU? Why should the Union give you something that is to its own detriment?
Him: Because we are British.
Me: Yes, and…?
Him: We are British!
Me: What does that mean?
Him: We are something special!
Me, astonished: Well, all peoples are more or less different from each other, and are special.
Him: Yes, that's true. But we are special in a special way.
Me: And what is that?
Him: We are better than others!
Me (after a short silence): Why?
Him: We are British!
...
I could not believe it. Until we talked about Brexit, my counterpart was open-minded and reflective. But when it came to the British and their status in the world, he turned into a spoiled 4-year-old.
Was the belief that the UK is somehow special a more widespread phenomenon? Another example: One of the Brexiteers' arguments was the British would not only be more competent than the EU in concluding trade agreements, but that other countries would readily agree to these, despite being less advantageous for them.
In later conversations, I made the British status in the world a topic again and again. And what can I say: the less I talked to people from our immediate London environment of young academics with an international background, the more the people believed in a special British status. From my personal research, I can't gauge exactly how widespread the belief is. It will be at least a significant minority; I cannot rule out a large majority.
To avoid any misunderstanding, nobody I talked to thought that the British "race" was inherently nobler or better than others. The British are not above other peoples per se. The tenor was rather that the British have achieved something special in history and therefore enjoy privileges or can be sure of the gratitude of other peoples.
I should have immediately initiated a discussion about the "why". But I was too surprised by the views and had to process them first. Moreover, I felt that I needed a little further knowledge for a discussion, as I had learned so little about British good deeds to the world during my school years.
So I spent the next few weeks reading about British history, not only to prepare for further discussions but out of general interest. Simon Jenkins promised in his book A Short History of England: "England's history is the most exciting of any nation on earth." That sounded exciting!
And it was. The reading was so enlightening that I want to share the results of my research with you. Don't worry, I won't bombard you with a dozen topics from even more centuries. But in my next posts I will take you on a little excursion into the British colonial history of the 19th century and beyond.
It seems to me, the views of many British are still shaped by that period.
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