Great Britain in the EU: 127 Entry, retreat, Brexit

In the article, based on a wide range of sources and literature, the British policy on the Euro-integration in 1972-2017 was investigated. It is shown that this problem is topical both in Russian and in English historiography. The aim of the study is to analyze the peculiarities of the European policy of the United Kingdom and the causes of Brexit. The article shows that the UK initially did not participate in the Euro-integration. However, in the 1960s, the British government realized that this is economically unprofitable and politically impractical. The goal of the UK's accession to the EEC was to maximize the economic benefits of integration and to increase its influence in Europe. Particular attention is paid to the theme of "retreat". This is due to the periodic review of the conditions for England's membership in the EEC, the upholding of national interests and the preservation of foreign policy priorities. The theoretical basis of this policy was the concept of neoconservatism. The study revealed that the result of integration was, on the one hand, strengthening and, on the other hand, a clash of economic complexes of partner countries that did not create a "single mechanism". In general, the policy of taking advantage of the open borders, while maintaining political and economic independence from Brussels, remained unchanged for 45 years of the United Kingdom's participation in European integration. England pursued a consistent policy of deepening economic integration and hampered the development of European social and political projects. The authors came to a conclusion that Brexit was the result of the aggravation of the contradictions in Europe due to the economic crisis that coincided with the migration crisis. In these conditions, London continued to pursue a policy of upholding national interests in order to maximize the benefits of integration. The Government of the Conservatives once again used the preparation of a referendum on membership in the European Union as a method of pressure on Brussels. The EU leadership made real concessions. However, the situation got out of the control of the British Cabinet, because the intensification of social discontent led to an aggravation of the political struggle and an increase in the popularity of the opposition forces that supported the withdrawal. The article concludes that participation in the Euro-integration allowed Britain to successfully pass the period of post-imperial modernization, to become economically stronger and to grow politically.

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