Division, Derision and Decisions: The Domino Effect of Brexit and Populisms Intersection of Rights and Wrongs (Political Science and History)

In 2016, both the United Kingdom and the United States found themselves embroiled in bitter battles, battles in which the citizens themselves became their own worst enemies. The Brexit campaign in the United Kingdom and the 2016 United States Presidential campaign precipitated a rebirth of populism and nationalism, reinvigorating entire populations and charming even the most casual observer into political action and discourse. Yet, in both cases, what began as an endeavor to serve the needs of the citizenry morphed into a battlefield of derision and division. Racism and xenophobia are no longer isolated issues affecting only small portions of a society. Hate crimes, hate speech and overt racial discrimination are on the rise worldwide, stemming from populist empowerment. Battlegrounds of freshly brewed hostility, pitting neighbor against neighbor, have created a pandemic with the potential to permanently alter our understanding of right and wrong as well as the application of law and order. Rather, these issues are now at the forefront of debate and have assumed a position on the frontlines of political warfare worldwide. The parallels between campaigns are not merely provocative, they are disarming; but the manifestation of similar events in countries around the world is cause for concern. This book explores the course of Brexit, the parallels between it and the 2016 US Presidential election, and how it served as an impetus and inspiration for public outcry and uprising around the world.