The United Kingdom and EU enlargement in the Western Balkans
From ardent champion of expansion to Post-Brexit irrelevance
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21157230 |
|---|---|
| Authors | James Ker-Lindsay (School of Arts and Humanities, St Mary’s University, Twickenham, UK), James Ker‐lindsay (London School of Economics and Political Science, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 555-569 |
| Publication date | 2017-10-02 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Southeast European and Black Sea Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1468-3857 • E-ISSN: 1743-9639 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14683857.2017.1397958 |
| OpenAlex | W2768464495 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 2 |
This article examines the United Kingdom’s approach to the question of European Union enlargement in the Western Balkans. It shows that while Britain had no traditional attachment to the region, it championed expansion as part of its long-standing aim to widen EU membership to prevent deeper political union. However, as immigration from the EU increased after the 2004 enlargement and a Eurosceptic Conservative-led government took charge in 2010, official support for enlargement began to decline. Britain ceded its place to Germany as the strongest supporter of EU expansion. Meanwhile, during the referendum campaign on EU membership, the prospect that future enlargement could further increase the number of migrants emerged as a central point of debate. Although this discussion was primarily focused on Turkey, the Western Balkans also played a part. Therefore, even had the United Kingdom decided to remain in the EU, there is an argument to be made that Britain could well have become more opposed towards future expansion. As it is, the decision to leave the EU (Brexit), has ensured that Britain has now all but lost its say over enlargement
Brexit · Champion · Economic history · Economics · Economy · European union · Geography · International trade · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Referendum · Resizing · Supporter · Cyprus History, Politics, Society · History · Law · Post-Soviet Geopolitical Dynamics · Turkey's Politics and Society
Turkey’s EU accession as a factor in the 2016 Brexit referendum
The EU Rule of Law Initiative Towards the Western Balkans
A small state finding its way in the EU
Radicalisation and discursive accommodation
To Europe or Not to Europe? Migration and Public Support for Joining the European Union in the Western Balkans
Contesting the EU on the periphery in times of crisis
| Unique citing works | 6 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,67 |
| Citation span | 2017 - 2023 (7) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 5 |