The Road to Brexit: The Socio-Political Dimension of Great Britain's Participation in European Integration Processes

Abstract

Abstract. The purpose of the article is to show the features of the formation position of society and leading political parties of Great Britain on European integration in the second half of 20 – early 21 century in the context of the current Brexit process. The research methodology of the study formed the principles of historicism, systematic, the author’s objectivity, general scientific methods of logic, comparative analysis, special-historical methods (historiographical analysis, historical-system, chronology, historical-genetic, retrospective analysis, comparatively historical). Scientific novelty of the article is to study the historical origins and factors of the formation of a "special position" of Great Britain in the system of European integration. Emphasis is placed on the conceptual foundations of the UK’s newest policy on participation in European integration. The position of business elite and diplomats, representatives of leading political parties (Conservative Party, Labor Party) and public associations of the country, as well as the leading press on regional integration and participation of the United Kingdom are presented. Main foreign policy factors of the Brexit have been taken into account. Conclusions. British political strategy for relations with continental Europe in the second half of the 20 century evolved from the traditional distance and the refusal to participate directly in European integration to full membership, in an effort to adapt the development processes of the European Community to British foreign policy principles. The general public attitude towards European integration was marked by instability, which was caused by insufficient awareness of its citizens, Eurosceptic attitude of leading parties, conservatism of public sentiment and specificity of British identity, anti-European propaganda of the leading press. Contradictory character of European policy of the British governments and the lack of popularity of the unifying tendencies in the region among the local public caused the lack of unity in the question of the future participation of the state in the European Community, the uncertain positions of Great Britain on the eve of key events in the history of European integration related to the formation of the EU laid the basis for further problems in the UK’s relations with the EU.