Brexit Vote Shows Power of Populist Nationalism – Former IMF Official

© AFP 2023 / Daniel Leal-OlivasPeople hold Union Flags and the EU flag at a kiss chain event organised by pro-Europe 'remain' campaigners seeking to avoid a Brexit in the EU referendum in Parliament Square in front of the Houses of Parliament in central London on June 19, 2016.
People hold Union Flags and the EU flag at a kiss chain event organised by pro-Europe 'remain' campaigners seeking to avoid a Brexit in the EU referendum in Parliament Square in front of the Houses of Parliament in central London on June 19, 2016. - Sputnik International
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The British decision to leave the European Union appeared part of a wave of populist anger rejecting international cooperation in favor of nationalism, retired International Monetary Fund (IMF) economist Jon Shields told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Friday, the United Kingdom announced that nearly 52 percent of British voters chose in a referendum to leave the European Union, a move known as Brexit.

Two people hold an European Union and the castle of Hardelot, the cultural center of the Entente Cordiale (the colonial-era promise of cross-channel friendship between Britain and France)in Neufchatel-Hardelot, northern France. - Sputnik International
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“The world at the moment… is discarding civilization and compassion to vent its three-year-old’s tantrums,” Shields said about the result of the Brexit referendum on Friday. “Shakespeare saw it all: the power of the vile.”

Shields said the vote was certain to lead to political upheaval in Britain with anti-European extremist wing of the Conservative or Tory Party seizing control of the ruling political movement in the short term.

“As for the United Kingdom [former London Mayor] Boris Johnson and the crazy right of the Tory Party [will be] in power.”

Shields also predicted that the Brexit vote would lead to Scotland’s secession from the United Kingdom as a majority of Scottish voters, including the dominant Scottish National Party (SNP), had supported staying in the EU. He said such a move would transform Britain’s constitution.

“Scotland [is] set to leave [the United Kingdom] for good. That means there will probably be a new role for London.”

The United Kingdom might try to leave old tax treaties and become an offshore financial haven for European economies or a springboard to attract investment from China, Shields suggested.

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The Brexit vote also threw the future and leadership of the opposition Labour Party into confusion as its leader Jeremy Corbyn had campaigned to remain in the EU, Shields pointed out.

“No one knows what this means for Corbyn and Labour.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron and former Labor Party leader Ed Milliband had been responsible for the decision to hold the referendum and therefore they were also responsible for its outcome and the financial and political chaos that were likely to result, Shields added.

“No tears for Cameron – or Milliband, the man who allowed him to pursue the vote.”

Cameron has resigned and is now heading a caretaker government until new elections can be held in the fall.

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