By Siddarth Tumu’18, Commentary Editor

In a June 2016 referendum, 51.9% of the British population voted to leave the European Union. In this shocking, monumental decision, the British people decided to sever ties with the EU, a politico-economic union that has traditionally been a symbol of European unity and strength. Critics across the board were quick to proclaim Brexit as an immense failure of judgment on the part of the British people that would face dire consequences, while proponents hailed the decision as a step in the right direction. Whether or not you agree with the decision of the British people, it is undeniable that Brexit will have lasting implications on the international stage.

Although the vote to exit happened four months ago, Britain is still in the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May invoked Article 50 (legislation governing withdrawal from the EU) to put Britain on course to completely sever ties by March 2019. However, immediate repercussions are already being felt: the Pound is declining in value and consequently, inflation is on the rise, fueling fears of economic downturn in the near future. Economists and political pundits were quick to point out the many negative repercussions of Brexit, mainly that companies headquartered in Britain now have to reconsider their relationships with other European countries and companies. Furthermore, David Cameron (Prime Minister at the time of the vote) announced his resignation in the immediate aftermath, dramatically altering the political landscape.

To understand the sentiment of the British people, it is important to assess the demographics that voted to leave the EU. Polls show that the majority of people who voted to leave generally fall into the middle and lower classes. These individuals cited the large sums of money Britain pays to the EU as a reason to leave, as they believed this money could be better spent on economic reforms. A lot of pro-Brexit voters also held the opinion that being affiliated with the EU “soils their culture”. Individuals in the upper-middle and upper classes largely opposed Brexit, citing vast economic benefits and a shared European identity as reasons to stay. They recognized that despite the money that England may pay to the EU, they almost breakeven in received funding.

To gain a better perspective on the rhetoric behind staying or leaving, I sat down with Mr. Stourton, who grew up in Britain. Mr. Stourton confidently says that he would not have voted to leave. Growing up after World War II, he explains that he grew up with the idea that he was a European citizen and was therefore able to receive funding from the EU to study and work in several European countries; these opportunities are now much harder to come by. He also explains that the older, more conservative population blames Europe for loss of “prestige” and “sense of empire”, generally identifying more with American culture than with European traditions. Mr. Stourton even remarks that it would not necessarily be surprising should there be a complete reversal and Britain becomes the 51^st state of the America.

Brexit has had and will undoubtedly continue to have many lasting repercussions. While there was never fully a true English integration into the EU (Britain retained the Pound as their currency), Britain has hitherto relied on strong political affiliations and economic ties with other EU members that it no longer can necessarily rely on. The current system must be revised in order to accommodate continued English growth and expansion and the prosperity of the British people. 2016 is not the first time the British people have had a vote to leave the EU, but the decision still came as an utter shock to all.

I personally believe that Brexit was a failure of judgment on the part of the British people. While those who voted to leave may have felt justified in their own beliefs, the benefits of being in the EU largely outweigh the potential benefits of leaving. Economic downturn after Brexit is imminent, affecting not only British companies but also the entire British population, and political affiliations must now be reconsidered. As opposed to inspiring other countries to consider leaving, polls have found that EU members have rallied in support of the EU post-Brexit. It would not be surprising to see a large British push to rejoin the EU culminating in a referendum in the coming decades. Whether or not you agree with Brexit, it will be interesting to see how Britain and the entirety of Europe progress in the future.