Brexit and emergent politics: In search of a social psychology

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a conceptual and methodological approach that psychologists and other social scientists can employ to study emergence. We consider relevant social psychological approaches and conclude that, for the most part, social psychology has tended to focus on processes of normalisation following disruptions, rather than examining emergence in itself. An exception to this is G. H. Mead, whose work we draw on to theorise emergence with a focus on contemporary "affective politics." In the second part of the paper, we use focus group data on the European Union referendum in the UK to empirically illustrate our theoretical points. We discuss in particular three axes for exploring the emergent politics of Brexit: political values, political authority, and the authority of affect. We conclude our discussion by reflecting on some of the theoretical and political implications of our analysis.

Lay discourses about Brexit and prejudice: “Ideological creativity” and its limits in Brexit debates

“…The notion of prejudice is “stretched” (cf. Andreouli, Kaposi, & Stenner, ) in Extract 6 to mean the exact opposite of what it commonly refers to, particularly in Remain‐supporting accounts: from being associated with Eurosceptic and anti‐immigration attitudes, prejudice is here associated with Eurocentrism. This line of reasoning has been common among some Brexit supporters and can be seen in a broader narrative of “cosmopolitan Brexit” and “global Britain” (Andreouli, ) that gained prominence following the referendum.…”

“…As Amanda puts it, “people who are on the left who want to leave” feel that they “can't speak out, like they've lost a voice”. Overall, given the widely assumed link between support for Brexit and prejudice, particularly among supporters of Remain, participants found it difficult to support a “Lexit” perspective as it would jeopardise their leftist identity credentials (see also Andreouli et al., ).…”

“…The notion of prejudice is "stretched" (cf. Andreouli, Kaposi, & Stenner, 2019) in Extract 6 to mean the exact opposite of what it commonly refers to, particularly in Remain-supporting accounts:…”

Social psychology and citizenship: A critical perspective

“…A fruitful area of research is, more broadly, the study of emerging political subjectivities and ideologies. As discussed in previous work in the context of the United Kingdom (Andreouli et al, ), the politics of Brexit have brought to the fore and emboldened the “affective citizen,” who is impassioned and conflictual, against the “rational citizen” who is oriented towards consensus and detached calculation. These two logics are not just a matter of difference of opinions; they reflect two modes of engaging with the political and acting as a political agent.…”

“…“Inspired” from disruptive political events, such as the election of Trump, Brexit, and the rise of the extreme right in Europe and beyond, scholars have started to study the decline of the existing political order (such as neoliberal capitalism) and the emergence of novel political configurations and cleavages. This changing landscape has given rise to a series of “unravellings” (Andreouli, Kaposi, & Stenner, ) whereby established ideological positions (like the political centre) have lost their certainty, while other previously marginal positions have gathered momentum, such as those of the far right and left. In this process, political values become rearticulated in new and unanticipated ways.…”