Constitutional monarchy in the UK as a populist mediator: the case of Brexit
Conference item
Jones, M. 2023. Constitutional monarchy in the UK as a populist mediator: the case of Brexit. 2023 South Eastern Association of Law Schools Annual Conference. Boca Raton, Florida, USA 23 - 29 Jul 2023
Title | Constitutional monarchy in the UK as a populist mediator: the case of Brexit |
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Authors | Jones, M. |
Abstract | The rise of populist parties and -figures usually indicate deepening polarisation among the citizens of a country, and indeed the outcome of the Brexit referendum signalled such a situation in the UK as well. In an increasingly polarized society, it could well be argued that this gap cannot be bridged by law alone, nor by politics, nor by a combination of the two. Something more is needed, a unifying factor that transcends politics, class, religion, financial status, all the things that divide people in a country. Perhaps the reason why the UK has not torn itself apart over Brexit can be attributed, at least partly, to the fact that it does indeed possess such a unifying factor in the form of an institution that has existed continuously in the country for more than a thousand years and which still plays an active albeit quietly constitutional role: the British Monarchy. This paper explores this thesis by briefly recapping what populism means and why it is seen as a problem for democracy before more closely examining Brexit as a case study of the tensions around sovereignty. It finishes by examining the role the British Monarch played before, during and after the Brexit process, and asks whether a constitutional Monarchy may be a mediating influence in a modern pluralist democracy such as the UK. |
Keywords | Brexit; Populism; Parliamentary sovereignty; British Monarchy; Constitutional Law |
Sustainable Development Goals | 16 Peace, justice and strong institutions |
Middlesex University Theme | Creativity, Culture & Enterprise |
Conference | 2023 South Eastern Association of Law Schools Annual Conference |
Publication process dates | |
Completed | 27 Jul 2023 |
Deposited | 15 Mar 2024 |
Output status | Published |
Draft pre-submission version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Open |
Copyright Statement | Mariette Jones reserves all copyright. |
Additional information | This paper was delivered for the SEALS Global Outreach Committee session entitled "Democracy Worldwide in the Face of Populism", moderated by Prof Patrick Hugg, Loyola University, New Orleans. |
Web address (URL) | https://sealslawschools.org/submissions/schedule.php?year=2023 |
Language | English |
https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/9xqv6
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