Britannia Forever European
by Oisin Kennedy-Baleztena
Brexit is not a mere political issue of recent years, rather, it should be considered a phenomenon embedded in a longer arc of history. Yes, Brexit may make sense if we look only to the past, to an age when Britain stood alone, ruling the world with its vast empire. Back then, Britain seemed to have little need for alliances. But we are no longer in that age. Our world has transformed; our challenges have evolved. In a modern world shaped by the scars of two World Wars, standing alone no longer serves the British.
After the devastation of those wars, a new world order emerged-a Westphalian rebirth, but on a global scale. No single European nation, no matter how powerful, could safeguard its future alone. The United States and the Soviet Union rose, casting long shadows over Europe, and in that landscape, European nations, including the UK, could only find their footing through unity. In coalitions like NATO and the European Economic Community-later the EU—we didn't just preserve our soverfignty; we amplified it. Together, we took control of our destiny in a way that ensured peace, stability, and prosperity for decades.
It's true that Britain has often been a reluctant partner in the EU, sometimes seeming like a child dragged along, foot-dragging through policies it didn't always agree with.
But we must recognize that abandoning the EU, such an essential strategic alliance, is more than a political act-it's a decision that weakens the British people, diminishes the nation, and compromises your international standing. In a time of rising threats, of shifting powers, this choice couldn't be more perilous.
Look around us. The peace of the liberal international order-the very order we helped create is trembling. The United States, once the champion of European security, grows more isolationist (as seen yesterday). It is shifting its gaze towards the Pacific, toward a Far East now influenced by an increasingly assertive China. A new Cold War is dawning, and Britain now faces increasing threats with far fewer friends at its side.
If there is one thing history teaches us, it's that strength lies in unity. If not for our cultural bonds, if not for our intertwined histories, then let us unite for something even greater: the survival of our sovereignty. For we all risk everything by going forth alone.
The choice is stark and simple: we either fall in separation, or we survive together. The European project may have its flaws, yes, but it remains one of the most remarkable democratic achievements in modern history. It is a beacon—a vision of nations. cooperating for the common good while maintaining their unique identities. There is still much work to be done, much to improve. And make no mistake: Britain's voice, Britain's leadership, Britain's values, are needed to drive that improvement.
For Britain, for Europe, and for the world—let us recognize the value of unity, and the strength it grants us to confront the challenges ahead. We must understand this fundamental choice: to share some autonomy with Brussels or to risk far greater sovereignty to the whims of distant Great Powers.