People's distrust of international organisations led to Brexit saga - study
- Country:
- United Kingdom
The UK referendum vote to leave the European Union (EU) may have been driven by people's distrust of international organisations, alongside the fear of immigration, a study has found. Researchers from the University of Kent in the UK found that Euroscepticism is not only shaped by attitudes towards immigration and feelings of national identity but also by opposition towards UK involvement in transnational organisations such as the EU.
Supranationalism is defined as the transfer of power from the national to the supranational level, leading to increased dependence on foreign political partners and increased social and cultural exchange. The team considered study respondents' ideological predispositions, particularly preferences for cultural traditions and loyalty to national authority and a desire for group-based dominance and hierarchy in society to see whether these predicted negative attitudes towards international institutions.
They found that people with higher levels of both these characteristics in their ideological outlook were less supportive of supranationalism, were more Eurosceptic, and found it more important that the UK 'takes back control'. This manifested itself in a preference for 'prioritising control' in any post-Brexit scenario among those with a negative attitude towards the concept of supranationalism.
This included 'bringing back control of our laws to Parliament' and 'bringing back control of decisions over immigration to the UK'. Another indicator was age, with older respondents also more likely to have a negative attitude towards the concept of supranationalism.
(With inputs from agencies.)
- READ MORE ON:
- Qualitative research
- Opinion poll
- Survey methodology
- Registered training organisation
- Organizational structure
- National Health Service
- European Union
- European Council
- European Commission
- Parliamentary opposition
- Leader of the Opposition
- Binary opposition
- Nationals Park
- Foreign national
- Washington Nationals
- Partners Group
- Sexual partner
- Starr Partners
- respondents
- people
ALSO READ
Biden and Japan's Kishida forge new partnership, eyeing China and Russia
Anupam Kher ropes in National Award-winning choreographer Kruti Mahesh for his directorial 'Tanvi The Great'
Kejriwal's PA Bibhav Kumar to challenge termination by Directorate of Vigilance in CAT: AAP legal team
"We were unstoppable": Punjab FC coach Vergetis hails team's performance against East Bengal FC
"Team is giving 100 % in practice sessions": Darshan Nalkande following last-ball thriller against RR