The referendum on Brexit, with an unprecedented voter turnout of 72 percent, has attracted the attention of the whole world, as its outcome will not only impact the future of the UK, but also bring about huge and unpredictable changes to the European hegemony and also to the future of globalization. It would be interesting to watch that globalization has been challenged in its own homeland.

Brexit may be defined as the first wave of anti-globalization and rising populism. The leaders of the rich and capitalist world are in a state of stupor about the future of their moves and the economy. For them Britons pushing for Brtexit has been the major source of worry. It is certain in near future, especially by the time UK leaves the EU, globalization and anti-globalization forces would engage in fierce battles in different fields, which is likely to involve more countries apart from the EU members.

At some level the reasons for the win of Donald Trump as the US president could be traced to emergence of the anti-globalization element in the American politics. The day Brexit becoming a reality, deglobalisation will gain more appeal among Americans. It would send the politically correct message to the Americans. The apparent reason is EU has been putting the populist ideas of the USA in practice and also EU and the US are experiencing a fundamental shift in social physiological and political framework. True enough the dissenting voices within the EU are scared of the latest political shift and changes.

The age of globalisation began on the day the Berlin Wall came down. From that moment in 1989 the free movement of capital, people and goods, trickle-down economics gained momentum. But the collapse of the investment bank Lehman Brothers in 2008 sent the strong message that globalization was playing havoc with nation economies. Europe has failed to fulfill the historic role allocated to it. The member countries were facing severe financial and economic crisis due to globalization.

Brexit was the candle light in the dark allay. This was the reason that EU held the notion that on the issue of response to the Brexit it should take a tough line with Britain to show other countries that dissent has consequences. Worldwide, an anti-establishment revolt has been raging since the crisis. The victory of the new faces with new ideas and ideologies should be viewed in this perspective. In 30 of the major democracies, the incumbent rulers have managed to win only in a third of national elections each year since 2008. In the 20 top emerging and developed nations, the approval rating of the incumbent leaders has fallen from a high of 54 percent before 2008, to just 37 percent. One development is quite significant: globalization produced a huge population of billionaires across the globe. More than 90 of them live in London, one of the highest concentrations in the world. This was the reason that the young voters of London rebelled and voted against the Conservatives. Harvard Business School professor Geoffrey G. Jones says Brexit and Donald Trump’s rise show that the world is witnessing the wave of deglobalization.

The fact is the EU does not intend to lose UK. The remarks of French president Emmanuel Macron ate quite significant; “the door to the EU would remain open to Britain during Brexit negotiations”. Macron and Verhofstadt were clear that the door would close once Britain formally leaves the EU at the end of Brexit negotiations in March 2019.

Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council also used the first EU summit since the general election and the start of the Brexit negotiations to suggest that there is a chance the UK could still remain a member of the union. His offer came while the EU leaders called on Theresa May in Brussels to provide clarity on her minority government’s intentions.

Tuskl quoted the lyrics of John Lennon’s Imagine in expressing his hope that Britain could change its mind given recent events. “We can hear different predictions, coming from different people, about the possible outcome of these negotiations: hard Brexit, soft Brexit or no deal”. “Some of my British friends have even asked me whether Brexit could be reversed, and whether I could imagine an outcome where the UK stays part of the EU. I told them that in fact the European Union was built on dreams that seemed impossible to achieve.”

While May is for hard Brexit, the EU leaders like other UK leaders are for a soft Brexit. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was hopeful that the UK would seek a soft Brexit. Tusk also added: “It must be clear that the European council is not a forum for the Brexit negotiations, We have our negotiations for this. And so leaders will only take note of this intention.”

Nevertheless Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, while calling on the government to fight to keep Britain in the single market cautioned May that people of Britain did not give her mandate to go for hard Brexit. Obviously she must focus on soft Brexit. Khan said: “The prime minister sought a mandate from the British people for her version of hard Brexit but the electorate registered their opposition. It’s time she heeded the message.

No doubt the Conservatives are trying to shift the Brexit goalposts. Utter confusion grips the political parties and their leaders as to what course ought to be taken at this crucial juncture. There is the general feeling that the government must listen to the will of the people by putting aside ideology, and negotiate a sensible Brexit.

Nevertheless the realistic view prevailing in UK is the Brexit cannot be averted, it can only be softened. A paper calling for a new “continental partnership” has prompted much interest in pro-European circles: it envisages a two-tier Europe, with Britain sitting in an outer tier, enjoying a form of single market membership that nevertheless allows for limits on free movement.

It is expected that the issue of EU citizens who could remain in Britain is likely to be solved amicably. May was the sole cabinet minister to block a unilateral offer to EU citizens that they could remain in Britain in the days following the referendum. Citizens’ rights are the rights and protection is offered to all EU citizens which include free movement and residence, equal treatment and a wide range of other rights under EU law regarding work, education, social security and health. They are held by some 3.5 million citizens from other member states in the UK and about 1.2 million British nationals on the continent, and are a key part of the article 50 negotiations that are taking Britain out of Europe. The UK government has also stressed in its Brexit white paper that it wants to “give people the certainty they want ... at the earliest opportunity. It is the right and fair thing to do”.

On 22 June, May travelled to Brussels to unveil the outline of what she called a “fair and serious” offer to guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in Britain. Critics of Brexit, meanwhile, are hoping the government will uphold another unwritten rule known as the Sewell convention – which requires the assent of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies in matters that affect their devolved powers. During the Queen’s speech debate, May conceded that her Brexit legislation may require such a legislative consent motion (LCM). (IPA Service)