After more than 40 years of membership in the European Union, the United Kingdom voted via referendum to separate from the EU on June 23, 2016. Following the surprise verdict (termed Brexit), a political upheaval followed, with many ministers, including Prime Minister David Cameron, resigning or being sacked, and markets collapsed. As markets recovered, Theresa May was chosen as the new prime minister of the UK in charge of leading the separation.
The future of the UK and its relationship with Europe was uncertain. No country had ever left the EU before, so there was no precedent to follow and no clear indication of what the UK planned to do after exiting. Why had the British voted to leave? Would the UK and the EU be able to agree on a mutually beneficial arrangement? What would be the effects, politically and economically, on the UK and European countries? The impact of the disunion on the relationship between the EU and the UK was yet to be seen.
The future of the UK and its relationship with Europe was uncertain. No country had ever left the EU before, so there was no precedent to follow and no clear indication of what the UK planned to do after exiting. Why had the British voted to leave? Would the UK and the EU be able to agree on a mutually beneficial arrangement? What would be the effects, politically and economically, on the UK and European countries? The impact of the disunion on the relationship between the EU and the UK was yet to be seen.
Keywords: Voting; International Relations; Government and Politics; System Shocks; United Kingdom; European Union;
Citation:
Alfaro, Laura, Jesse Schreger, and Haviland Sheldahl-Thomason. "Brexit." Harvard Business School Case 717-028, November 2016. (Revised March 2018.) View Details