Short History of Brexit (Pelican Books)

'Crisp, clear and quietly devastating' Guardian
'Excellent, authoritative, highly readable' Irish Times

A succinct, expert guide to how we got to Brexit

After all the debates, manoeuvrings, recriminations and exaltations,Brexit is upon us. But, as Kevin O'Rourke writes, Brexit did not emergeout of nowhere: it is the culmination of eventsthat have been underway for decades and have historical roots stretching back well beyondthat. Brexit has a history.

O'Rourke, one of the leading economichistorians of his generation, explains not only how British attitudesto Europe have evolved, but also how the EU's history explains why itoperates as it does today - and how that history has shaped the ways inwhich it has responded to Brexit. Why are the economics, the politicsand the history so tightly woven together? Crucially, he also explainswhy the question of the Irish border is not just one of customs andtrade, but for the EU goes to the heart of what it is about.The way inwhich British, Irish and European histories continue to interact witheach other will shape the future of Brexit - and of the continent.

Calm and lucid, A Short History of Brexitrises above the usual fray of discussions to provide fresh perspectivesand understanding of the most momentous political and economic changein Britain and the EU for decades.

Reviews

a very readable account of how we got here - including contemporary issues such as the financial crash and the refugee crisis, and longer-term factors such as British attitudes to free trade, parliamentary sovereignty and empire