British Euroscepticism and the Eurozone Crisis 2008-2013

Book excerpt: This book provides a thorough examination of the phenomenon of Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom. It begins by arguing that Euroscepticism has roots as far back as when the process of European integration first came into being, and that it is not new in British politics. As a suggestion of opposition to the process of European integration, Euroscepticism dates back to the early days of founding a union in Western Europe. This book shows that Eurosceptic Britain is a product of a variety of factors particularly related to history, politics, culture, and geography. The unique specificities of the British political system comprise another important reason for Eurosceptic attitudes in Britain. The book also examines the relation between the Eurosceptic discourse in Britain and the structure of the European Union’s institutions. It argues that much of British Euroscepticism is about the way these institutions are operated. Most importantly, it highlights that the enduring Eurozone crisis has contributed to shaping recent varieties of scepticism towards the European Union as a whole, before concluding that Euroscepticism could not relocate Britain outside its natural place within Europe.