Nationalism and the European Union: A Review of Britain & Europe in a Troubled World by Vernon Bogdanor

In Britain & Europe in a Troubled World, Vernon Bogdanor, a government professor at King’s College London, explores the relationship between Britain and Europe following World War II and the subsequent factors that contributed to Britain’s decision to leave the European Union (EU) in 2016. His argument is based on the premise that two ideologies, nationalism and liberalism, constantly conflict and continually change the British public’s opinion about integration with continental powers. This issue is more than just a matter of traditional politics; rather, it is rooted in the idea of national identity and what it means to be British, regardless of party allegiance. Bogdanor warns that Britain’s decision to leave the EU might not be an isolated event, citing the rise of other nationalist parties in Europe. He also contends that if the EU does not reform, it may face obsoletion and irrelevance.

The book originated as a series of lectures and it targets students of international relations with a limited preliminary knowledge of Britain and Europe’s history. Overall, Bogdanor provides a comprehensive and unbiased background to the complicated relationship. However, the majority of his work is hardly groundbreaking and seems to merely rehash the old grievances against the EU that have existed for decades, such as the lack of democratic representation. The main strength of his original thought comes from his opinions on EU reform; Bogdanor advocates for moving away from integration towards an inter-governmental system and for re-structuring the EU so that it is more accessible to everyday people.

Britain, Europe, and the World

The book begins with Europe starting to rebuild itself in the aftermath of World War II. Bogdanor contends that organizations, such as the Coal and Steel Community in 1957 and later the EU, originated out of fear of ultra-nationalistic parties taking over the governments of Europe and creating conflict on the Continent. While Britain supported these European efforts, there was significant debate in Britain about whether they—the Britons—were truly Europeans and whether they could or should successfully integrate into the European framework.¹ Bogdanor’s central point here is that Britain, while geographically a part of Europe, remains culturally distinct, which contributes to its complicated and, at times, strained relationship with the Continent. This difference stems from Britain’s unique status as an island nation, which gave rise to a maritime empire rather than the land-based empires of other European countries. However, while Bogdanor seems to believe that Britain alone has a distinct cultural identity, other European countries could make this claim as well. Even though they are not island nations, each developed differently and has its own unique features.

Bogdanor further suggests that Britain was pulled in two directions in the 20th-century following the end of World War II. On one hand, Britain sought to retain its status on the global stage with its relations to the Commonwealth as well as its “special relationship” with the United States; on the other, in the aftermath of World Wars I and II, the British government could not deny that events on the Continent had a profound effect on the well-being of the country. Bogdanor argues that as Britain grappled with its complex status in the world in the post-World War II era, it sought to remain distinct from the rest of Europe, placing priority on its connections with the English-speaking peoples of the world and the countries of the British Commonwealth.²

In this analysis, Bogdanor fails to note that other former European empires such as the French, the Belgians, and the Dutch were influenced by their colonies as well. In fact, colonial considerations overseas had a role in shaping the EU. The Schuman Doctrine, which established the mission of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1957, stated that one of its primary goals was “the development of the African Continent,” where countries like France, Belgium, and the Netherlands had colonies.³ In short, while Bogdanor makes the point that Britain has been influenced by...