Meg Russell, Director of the UCL Constitution Unit and Professor of British and Comparative Politics at UCL, examines the four factors which contributed to the parliamentary ‘perfect storm’ over Brexit, concluding that ‘parliament’ largely got the blame for divisions inside the Conservative Party. Continue reading Brexit and parliament: where did it all go wrong?
Tomáš Weiss, Head of Department of European Studies and Jean Monnet Chair in EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies at the Institute of International Studies, Charles University, Prague, argues that institutionalisation can empower small states. He notes their dependence on institutions can also make them vulnerable to institutional change, this is exemplified through the case of Czechia in the EU. Continue reading Small States and Institutional Change: the Lesson of Brexit
Dr Juha Jokela, Programme Director at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, outlines Finland’s status as a small state in the EU. He argues that although public support for the EU is extremely high, Finnish policymakers are concerned with the country’s influence, and are acting accordingly. Continue reading Deeper Integration and Constructive Engagement as Vehicles for Finnish Influence?
In light of the recently published EU negotiating directives, Prof. Piet Eeckhout, Dean of UCL Laws and Academic Director of the UCL European Institute, argues that the EU’s demand for UK alignment with EU standards could prove problematic, as the EU itself expects the right to regulate and change its standards over time. Should the UK not be afforded this right? Continue reading Brexit: can regulatory autonomy and level playing field be reconciled?
Filipa Figueira, Teaching Fellow at UCL SSEES, assesses Boris Johnson’s decisions as PM. She notes that his behaviour is perfectly understandable, and perhaps even predictable, if we adopt a rational choice perspective. As such, he is a useful case study for those seeking to study such behavioural models. Continue reading Boris Johnson as a model of rational choice? Understanding the PM’s Brexit strategy
