Explaining Britain's exit from the European Union in the framework of Neorealism

Document Type : Original Article

Author

• Mohammadreza Bigdeli

PhD in International Relations ,Faculty of Law ,Theology and Political Sciences ,Science and Research Unit, Islamic Azad University.

https://doi.org/10.22067/irlip.2025.88373.1538

Abstract

The British government decided to leave the European Union during a historic referendum known as Brexit after more than four decades. Therefore, the reasons for the departure of one of the most important and influential members of the European Union and the reason for the divergence in the largest and most successful example of regional convergence in history are investigated. International relations are very important. In the same way, the upcoming research to explain this emerging event seeks to answer the question, what factors caused Britain to leave the European Union? The present research, using the descriptive-analytical method and from the perspective of neo-realism, is based on the hypothesis that due to the transnational nature of the political and economic mechanism governing the European Union, Britain, due to the lack of trust resulting from the anarchy prevailing in the international system, in order to maintain its national sovereignty against interdependence and also obtaining maximum benefits in comparison of relative and absolute benefits, it left the European Union.According to the theoretical framework of the system-oriented research, Brexit is rooted in factors that are the result of mistrust resulting from the anarchic system. So that the United Kingdom, in order to maintain its national sovereignty against the interdependence resulting from the political and economic mechanism of the European Union, as well as the comparison of benefits In order to obtain maximum benefits, as a wise actor with a cost-benefit approach, he left the European Union. Based on the results obtained, Britain's exit from the European Union will increase economic growth and greater freedom of action for this country. has brought the international arena.

Keywords

• Neorealism
• Integration
• European Union
• Brexit
• Britain

References

Babaei, Soraya, Soltani, Sanai, Ardeshir, & Shirzad. (2022). Scenarios of the impact of Brexit on the monetary unity of the European Union. International Quarterly of Geopolitics, 18(66), 88-109. (In Persian)

Babakhani Timuri, Moezuddin, Faeghi, Mohammad, & Gurbankhani. (2021). The consequences and effects of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union at the domestic, regional and international levels based on the theory of Alexander Went. Politics and international relations. (In Persian)

Breinlich,Holger,Leromain, Elsa,Novy , Dennis and Sampson,Thomas,(2017),”The consequences of the Brexit vote for UK inflation and living standards: First evidenc https://www.cepr.org/voxeu/columns/brexit-vote-and-inflation-updated-evidence

Christova-Balkanska,I.(2019).Structural changes in the industry of the EU member states.ResearchGate

 

COLLARD -Wexler,S.(2006).Integration Under Anarchy: Neorealism and the European Union. European Journal of International Relations, 12(3),397-432. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354066106067349

Craig, Paul,De Burca,Grainne,(2011),EU Law:Text, Cases and Materials (5th ed.)”. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Crerar,P.(2024).UK to boost defence spending to 2.5% of GDP,Sunak says.The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/23/uk-to-boost-defence-spending-to-25-of-gdp-sunak-says

 

Dehghani-Firouzabadi, Seyed Jalal, (2003), Evolution of conflict and cooperation theories in international relations.5(8), 73-117.(In Persian)

Dehghani-Firouzabadi, Seyed Jalal, (2014) A, theory and meta-theory in international relations, Tehran: The Mokhatab publication. (In Persian)

Dehghani-Firouzabadi, Seyed Jalal, (2014) B, Theories of Regional Convergence and International Regimes, Tehran: The Mokhatab publication. (In Persian)

Dorr,O.(2020).BREXIT-WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT MEANS. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350277462_BREXIT-WHAT_IT_IS_AND_WHAT_IT_MEANS

 

Dougherty, James & Pfaltzgraff, (Jr.), (1981). Conflicting Theories in International Relations, translated by Alireza Tayyeb and Vahid Gerghiri. Second edition. Tehran: Qoms. (In Persian)

Gibbins, J.(2020).Theorizing Brexit:UK/EU Relations and International Relations Theory.Political Movements and Parties (University of Malta). https://doi.org/10.33422/ivcss.2020.05.155

 

Goodman,peters,(2016),”Brexit a Feel-Good Vote That Could Sink Britain’s Economy”,https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/22/business/international/brexit-referendum-eu-economy.html.

Goodwin,M.(2023).What are the Benefits of Brexit? Matt Goodwin. https://www.mattgoodwin.org/p/what-are-the-benefits-of-brexit

 

Haas,E.B.(1970).The Study of Regional Integration: Reflections on the joy and anguish of pretheorizing.International Organization,24(4), 606–646.

https://doi.org/10.1017/s0020818300017495

 

Helm,toby.(2017),“A million skilled EU workers see their future outside Britain” https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/aug/27/million-skilled-eu-workers-planning-to-leave-uk-brexit.

 

Hemmati, H., Torabi, G., & Salehi Najafabadi, A. (2022). The Analyzing causes and factors of the growth of nationalist populism in the UK with a focus on Brexit. World Politics, 11(4), 99-138.

Hjelmgaard,Kim and Onyanga,Jane,(2016),“Explainer: The what, when and why of Brexit” https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Kingdom-Independence-Party,

https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220110.009

 

Jia,Y.(2022).Explaining Brexit,Post-Brexit foreign strategies of the UK and the UK-EU relations. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research/Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research.

 

Joseph,O.(2020).Political realism in International relations:Brexit and its implications for Nigeria.Open Journal of Social Sciences, 8(10), 306-320.

Kalantari, Poya, Hoshangi, Bayat, & Subhan. (2020). Examining the views of British parties on Brexit with an emphasis on political development theories. International Relations Studies Quarterly, 13(2), 107-131. (In Persian)

Lindberg,L.N.(1963).The Political Dynamics of European Economic Integration.In The Political Dynamics of European Economic Integration (pp.117–133). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-230-20933-6_6

 

Manafzadeh, Alireza. (2016). A look at the relations between England and the European Union. Farsi section of International Radio France. (In Persian)

Mayer,cathrine.(2014),“Anti-Immigration Party's Win in U.K. Rings Alarm Bells in Europe” http://time.com/3489820/ukip-uk-independence-party-douglas-carswell/

Mayhew ,Ken ,(2017),“UK higher education and Brexit”, Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 33(1), 155–161.

McCormick,J,(2006),”The European Superpower”,london:Palgrave Macmillan. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/29997847_The_European_Superpower_Jean_MonnetRobert_Schuman_Paper_Series_Vol5_No_8_April_2005

Mearsheimer, John, (2009), The Tragedy of Great Powers, translated by Gholam Ali Cheganizadeh. Tehran: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Publications. (In Persian)

Moshirzadeh, Humira and Ebrahimi, Nabi, (2009), Evolution in the Concept of Sovereignty in International Relations, Tehran: Strategic Studies Publications. (In Persian)

Naqibzadeh, Ahmad, (1994), Politics and Government in Europe, Tehran: Samt Publications. (In Persian)

Norris,D.A.(2002) Neorealism and the European Union Balance of Power in the Post-Cold War Era (Master's thesis, Ohio University).

Qavam, Seyyed Abdul Ali. Kiani, Dawood, (2011), European Union, Identity, Security and Politics. Tehran: Research School of Strategic Studies. (In Persian)

Ray,micheal.(2017),”United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Kingdom-Independence-Party

 

Sareeul-Qalam, Mahmoud (2005), Iran and the globalization of challenges and solutions. Tehran: Expediency Analysis Council, Strategic Research Center. (In Persian)

 

Semchuk,Z.,&Petryk,I.(2019).BREXIT: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343386171_BREXIT_CAUSES_AND_CONSEQUENCES

 

Sheikhul-Islami, Mohammad Hassan. Golchin Mozhgan, (2009), challenges of development and deepening in the European Union, divergence against coordination, Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities.1(1). (In Persian)

Simón,L.(2017).Neorealism, Security Cooperation, and Europe’s Relative Gains Dilemma. Security Studies, 26(2), 185–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/09636412.2017.1280297

 

Team, G. D. P. (2024). GDP quarterly national accounts, UK - Office for National Statistics.https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/bulletins/quarterlynationalaccounts/januarytomarch2024#:~:text=1.-,Main%20points,no%20growth%20in%20April%202024.

 

Viner, J. (1958). Stability and Progress: The Poorer Countries’ Problem. In D. Hague (Ed.),Wolanske, N.(2020). Understanding Brexit. ArcGIS StoryMaps.

Waltz, Kenneth. (2014), The Theory of International Politics, translated by Ruhollah Talebi Arani. Tehran: The The Mokhatab publication. (In Persian)