Brexit: Chronicle of a Crisis Foretold

Abstract

European regional integration seemed to be unstoppable and unbreakable despite the many political and economic crises it navigated since the 70s, and more recently in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Yet, for the first time in its history, the UK, one of its largest and most politically and economically powerful and influential Member States, took the extraordinary decision in 2016 to leave the European Union. Following an explanation of the Brexit process, two fundamental issues are addressed, namely whether Brexit was predictable and inevitable, and the potential consequences of a no-deal Brexit.