Brexit

The Brexit vote is a reminder of how weak trust in “the system” has become. Brexit advocates were driven primarily by the feeling that forces from outside – international experts, politicians, bankers, the European Union – had let them down; they feel less secure, less prosperous, and less hopeful than the past. These sentiments, which can be seen growing in polls over the last several decades, have been catalyzed by the immigration crisis, which threatens a wave of outsiders that exacerbate the sense that they have lost control of their own lives. The vote is essentially saying, “We have to take control again; we can’t trust anyone else.”

But it’s important to note that even many on the other side of the Brexit issue feel somewhat skeptical about the system. The young, broadly speaking, were opposed to the split but not very enthusiastic about voting. They, too, don’t believe that the system really works very well, or that it’s worth investing energy in. Unlike the pro-Brexit voters, they do not want to pull back behind their wall – quite the opposite; but they feel they can continue to reach out, to travel the world, to enjoy multiple cultures, to start global entrepreneurial ventures no matter what the formal governing system is. They have a different perspective, one which puts much less importance than classical liberalism on the role of government.

So it’s not that a majority, even in England, want to shut down. About 37% of eligible voters voted for Brexit. Almost 20% didn’t vote – and polls suggest that the majority of those were pro-Europe but lacked passion for the issue. That is the danger and paradox of our age. Those who want to shut down, to return to a nostalgic past, have clarity and passion. Those who want to open up are more scattered, and many are not convinced that the current institutions are the best way of doing it. 

The good news, the extraordinary news, is that perhaps for the first time in history, those who feel strongly that they want to rally their tribe against the outside are in a minority. The bad news is that they know clearly what they want, while progressive forces do not. There is great danger in shutting down, and great danger that a minority could make it happen; but there is hope in the gradual growth of a perspective that extends beyond tribalism.