In the end, the U.K. opted out of the European Union. Right or wrong, it is a landmark decision. The repercussions are too many as it is going to change the way the world looks at Great Britain. Nationalist emotions appear to have influenced the decision more than economic and political aspects. The U.K. has to now prove that it can survive with its unquestionable love for individualism.
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Ravindranathan P.V.,
Bengaluru
Watching the developments unfold, I was struck by the maturity and professionalism of the leaders and the processes followed. There was no sensationalism by the western media covering the event, no talk of money having been used to bribe voters, a short and well-worded speech by Prime Minister David Cameron accepting defeat with dignity, poise and maturity. There is a lot to learn for us Indians.
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Ram,
Chennai
Brexit has dashed the hopes of those who wanted to “Remain” in the European Union. While the British feel there are more advantages, the possibility now of more such demands cropping up in the rest of Europe cannot be ruled out. The first task should be to bring order in the financial markets.
D.B.N. Murthy,
Bengaluru
Brexit is sure to result in the U.K.’s economic ratings being downgraded and attracting less investment. India should seize the opportunity and use it to its full advantage.
Saikat Bhattacharya,
Asansol, West Bengal
Brexit is sure to be the catalyst for other member states fundamentally opposed to building a stronger EU. The need of the hour is for the EU to revamp itself, address the problems of member states and develop an enforcement mechanism to ensure that policies are administered fairly and equally across each member state.
Gagan Pratap Singh,
Noida, Uttar Pradesh
There are some important lessons such as the need to take recourse to democratic processes in order to resolve contentious issues. The way in which the leading proponents of the decision to leave have reacted publicly after the results has been exemplary. They have acknowledged with sobriety the contrary results from constituent parts of Britain and suggested that relations with the EU will remain friendly and co-operative. It was also instructive to see the spokespersons of the two sides not go into triumphalism or grumbling denial. It is also clear that a majority did not get carried away by the international and business-led ‘campaign’ for ‘Remain’. Hopefully, this historic vote will be seen as affirming people’s control over their polity and not a xenophobic rejection of refugees.
Firoz Ahmad,
New Delhi
An immediate consequence could be an upsurge in jingoistic and xenophobic sentiments across Europe. From a broader perspective, this mandate represents a severe setback to the grand vision of a borderless Europe without tariff barriers and limited restrictions on labour mobility. What is clear is that any such vision has to recognise that national, linguistic and cultural sensibilities are deeply ingrained and need to be accommodated. Equally importantly, any such regional union has to be preceded or accompanied by reforms that improve governance, raise productivity and dramatically reduce income inequalities.
Chandramohan Nair,
Tiruchi
It might provide an opportunity for India to have bilateral agreements with Britain like the FTA, which might not have been possible had it remained in the EU. One waits to see how the EU will recover.
Akshay Dhadda,
Jaipur
Apart from the feared downslide of the British economy, Brexit could also throw up fresh “Leave” campaigns that might result in racial disarray. With the shrinking economy and tough access to the EU — that is if the EU stays as it is now — jobs and businesses will face very tough internecine competition and strife within Britain itself. This could spark fresh outbursts and volatile campaigns in which non-English populations could become the next batch of immigrants targeted for having taken away British jobs and diluted British culture. “Winning our Sovereignty” and “Taking back control”, the much-emphasised slogans of the “Leave” camp, could have new racial and fascist meanings. Future governments in the U.K. and progressive citizens might have to remain on extra vigil.
Sham Shankar,
Chennai
This referendum is a great example of how the ideal solution to everything may not be subjecting it to a mass vote. A decision by vote presupposes that people making the decision are fully informed, have access to all the facts and the ability to arrive at mature insights. But as history has shown us, this is often not the case. Crowds tend to react emotively and are easily misled by eloquent speakers with vested interests. Human beings are also prone to taking decisions based on short-term benefits and pure self-interest. Whether we like it or not, this has to be factored in before we decide to throw something to a vote. History is likely to judge David Cameron harshly on this front.
Sandeep Menon,
Bengaluru