Brexit, Racism and the European Blame Game
Monday, 18 July 2016 00:00
Written by Peter Bloom By Peter Bloom, Truthout | Op-Ed
The United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union (EU) has sparked national and international shock as well as outrage. More than just a decision on whether the country should stay or go, it was transformed into a referendum on the continuing power of multiculturalism and toleration against the resurgent forces of racism and xenophobia.
However, this popular narrative misses how much of Brexit’s rhetoric and politics was fueled by the increasingly racist and conservative rhetoric of the EU over the past decade. In recent years, the EU has become a vehicle for spreading neoliberalism and austerity — forcefully if necessary.
Central to this project was the promotion of racist rhetoric scapegoating “lazy,” “inefficient” and “ungrateful”southern countries such as Greece and Spain for their economic woes. Adding fuel to this fire was the demonization of Arabs and Muslims as part of a “war against extremism” that supported European imperialism abroad and racial elitism domestically. [Read more]
Comments
Brexit vote has pushed UK services and manufacturing into contraction, new survey suggests
Latest Purchasing Managers Index shows ‘dramatic deterioration’ with economy shrinking at fastest rate since 2009
Ben Chu – Economics Editor – Independent UK
The Brexit shock has given the economy “a good kicking” according to a special set of surveys of businesses taken in the wake of the European Union referendum vote, which suggest the UK economy is now contracting at its steepest pace since the last recession in early 2009.
The “dramatic deterioration” will significantly increase the odds of a major monetary stimulus from the Bank of England next month to support the economy.
Economists have slashed their growth forecasts for 2016 and 2017 in the wake of the Brexit vote, with a majority surveyed by Bloomberg expecting the UK to return to recession for the first time in seven years.
Awe – We are not surprised – are we?? Some unintended consequences for throwing a tantrum …. this thing about voting with an undeveloped brain and a “protest vote” does not make economic sense.