Brexit threatens far more than the UK’s future

The author contends that Brexit reflects a global anger toward political elites and the failures of globalisation, rather than a failure of the EU itself. The text highlights specific risks for Ireland, including the potential return of a land border and economic destruction if the UK leaves the single market. It further argues that the EU must reform its governance—specifically the European Council—to increase transparency and accountability to prevent further rises of right-wing populism in states like France. The author suggests that a lack of investment in infrastructure and a 'Green New Deal' contributed to the precariousness that fueled the Leave campaign.

• Brexit poses three primary risks to Ireland: the potential return of a land border that could destabilise Northern Ireland, immense economic destruction if the UK exits the single market, and technical uncertainties regarding the common travel agreement established in 1922.
• The author attributes the success of the Brexit campaign to a combination of xenophobic nationalism and the economic precariousness of less educated citizens who felt left behind by globalisation and fiscal austerity.
• The document argues that the EU's governance is too complex for citizens to understand and specifically calls for the European Council to end its tradition of convening in secret to ensure accountability and transparency.
• The author warns that if EU leaders fail to provide a vision that addresses the woes of economic collapse and globalisation, other European nations, such as France, may turn to right-wing leaders like Marine Le Pen.

APA

Ahern, N. (2016). Brexit threatens far more than the UK’s future. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/brexit-threatens-far-more-than-the-uks-future/

Chicago

Ahern, Nuala. Brexit threatens far more than the UK’s future. Green European Journal, 2016. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/brexit-threatens-far-more-than-the-uks-future/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Ahern |first1=Nuala |title=Brexit threatens far more than the UK’s future |publisher=Green European Journal |date=11 August 2016 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/brexit-threatens-far-more-than-the-uks-future/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{ahern2016brexit, author = {Ahern, Nuala}, title = {{Brexit threatens far more than the UK’s future}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2016}, month = aug, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/brexit-threatens-far-more-than-the-uks-future/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }