The Geopolitical Ramifications Of The ‘Brexit’ Vote

By Worldview
The flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, top, and the flag of England fly above a souvenir stand on Westminster Bridge. Britain voted to leave the European Union after a bitterly divisive referendum campaign.
The flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, top, and the flag of England fly above a souvenir stand on Westminster Bridge. After Britain voted to leave the EU, Northern Ireland's position within the UK is in question. Tim Ireland / AP Photo
The flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, top, and the flag of England fly above a souvenir stand on Westminster Bridge. Britain voted to leave the European Union after a bitterly divisive referendum campaign.
The flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, top, and the flag of England fly above a souvenir stand on Westminster Bridge. After Britain voted to leave the EU, Northern Ireland's position within the UK is in question. Tim Ireland / AP Photo

The Geopolitical Ramifications Of The ‘Brexit’ Vote

By Worldview
WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

The UK vote to leave the EU sent immediate geopolitical shockwaves: Scotland announced it may seek another referendum to leave the UK; rivals in Northern Ireland are debating reunification or leaving the UK as well  and reports state that China views “Brexit” as an opportunity to create closer ties with the UK. 

Also, big gains by conservatives in yesterday’s Spanish election leave many wondering if ‘Brexit’ will further fuel Europe’s tilt to the political right. We ask historian and security expert, John Mearsheimer, to give analysis on the potential geopolitical ramifications of the “Brexit” decision. Mearsheimer is a professor of political science at the University of Chicago and author of numerous books on foreign policy and security including The Tragedy of Great Power Politics and Why Leaders Lie: The Truth about Lying in International Politics.