On Thursday, voters in the United Kingdom will decide whether to leave or remain in the European Union. Duke political scientist Tim Buthe, who specializes in the EU and the politics of international economic relations, writes about the vote in this op-ed. Below are excerpts from the op-ed.• Quotes: "Thursday's referendum in the United Kingdom about whether to leave or remain in the European Union is still too close to call. This is stunning, given that leaving the EU will expose the U.K. to major economic uncertainty and will diminish both the EU and the U.K. politically. It may even lead to the breakup of Great Britain, as Scottish public opinion is strongly in favor of remaining in the EU.”“Proponents of ‘Brexit’ have made strong claims, including that it will ultimately make Britain richer and restore its liberty. But the ultimate reason for the strength of the exit camp is the near-complete failure of the British political leadership. Over the past half century, Britain's leaders have failed to make a case for EU membership based on something broader and deeper than a short-term utilitarian calculus.”“Building a political community requires a commitment to something larger than maximizing short-term economic benefits. Britain's leaders may learn this the hard way.” • Bio:Tim Buthe, an associate professor of political science and public policy at Duke University, specializes in the EU and the politics of international economic relations.http://polisci.duke.edu/people/tim-b%C3%BCthe• For additional comment, contact Tim Buthe at:buthe@duke.edu
