Political Causes of Brexit: Populist Discourse in the Context of the 2016 Referendum Campaign

Abstract

Brexit represents one of the most significant political developments in contemporary European politics, with far-reaching consequences for both the United Kingdom and the future of European integration. While the outcome of the 2016 referendum is often explained in terms of economic or institutional factors, a growing body of scholarship emphasizes the importance of political and discursive dynamics in shaping voter behavior. This article aims to analyze the political causes of Brexit and to assess the role of populist discourse in influencing the referendum outcome. The study is grounded in the theoretical framework of populism, conceptualized as a thin-centered ideology that divides society into two antagonistic groups: the “pure people” and the “corrupt elite.” Within this framework, politics is understood as the expression of the general will of the people against elite domination. Applying this perspective, the article demonstrates that the Brexit campaign extensively employed discursive strategies that portrayed both the European Union and segments of the British political establishment as detached from the will of the people. Particular attention is paid to the construction of sovereignty as a central political narrative and to the mobilizing role of immigration. Methodologically, the article employs qualitative discourse analysis, drawing on campaign materials, political speeches, and public messaging. The findings suggest that populist discourse functioned as a mediating mechanism that amplified existing Euroscepticism, transformed sovereignty into a central symbolic category, and framed immigration as a key mobilizing cleavage. As a result, a significant portion of the electorate made decisions not on the basis of detailed policy evaluation, but through simplified and emotionally charged narratives. The article concludes that Brexit cannot be fully explained by structural factors alone. Political discourse - particularly populist narratives - plays a crucial role in contemporary democratic processes and can significantly shape collective political decision-making.