Assessment of the Issues and Challenges that Prompted Britain’s Exit from the European Union

Abstract

Series of events and developments in the complex relationship between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) led to the 2016 Brexit referendum which ushered Britain’s official withdrawal from the EU on 30th January, 2020. The study explores the issues and challenges that triggered Britain’s departure from the European Union. The study used secondary data from books, articles, policy documents and bilateral briefings. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. The study is guided by the Integration Theory of international relations. The findings of the study showed that Brexit was driven by numerous issues, including disparities in development, sovereignty, inequality, anti-immigration movement, populism, and British national identity. Additionally, the paper presents various challenges the United Kingdom encountered during Brexit’s negotiation process and in its post-Brexit journey. Based on the findings, the study recommends that EU should review its existing laws to prevent unnecessary exit by any member state, and as well encourage member countries to retain peculiar priorities to ensure unity in diversity in order to strengthen the European integration project.