The divided kingdom: making sense of the 'Brexit' referendum

The “in-or-out” referendum on Britain’s EU membership on 23 June 2016 has returned a narrow majority for “Brexit”. This result brings to the fore deep divisions within British society and has aggravated the current crisis of European integration. It has also plunged Britain into a period of political, economic and constitutional uncertainty. This article sheds light on the political context and the main drivers of the British vote to leave the EU. The discussion will begin with exploring the political rationale behind calling the referendum in the first place. The focus will then shift to the European negotiations about Britain’s demands for EU reform in the run-up to the vote. Finally, the article will analyse the main long- and short-term explanatory factors for the referendum outcome.