Thin line between populism and democracy

Illustration: jadidpresse

Britain is slowly getting its breath back after the last week's seismic earthquake of the Brexit verdict in a referendum. As possible short term ripple effects sink in and the deeper closets of recrimination are unlocked, the Leave campaigners' initial euphoria fades away. They couldn't go gaga making a victory lap nor afford triumphalism. 

Heavy lifting of emotions is having a telling effect on the psyche; nearly three million Britons have already signed an online petition to their government for a second referendum. Cameron has emphatically ruled this out saying that the voters' instructions shall be carried out. It is noteworthy though that a parliamentary practice exists in Britain to take cognizance of a petition signed by one lakh citizens and do something about it.

There is a very important operational clause to be adhered to before further proceedings can take place on the outcome of the referendum. The British parliament would have to serve a notice in accord with Article 50 of the Treaty of Rome for relinquishing membership within two years after notifying. Nobody can force the issue; advisory discretion of the British parliament to hand out the notice is indispensable. 

The European project has been steeped in history of a Churchillean dream for united states of Europe. But it's primarily a product of cold war era giving way to fall of communism and ushering in of detente. Now that the conflict between socialist hegemony and western capitalism as a way of life has been long over, a new phenomenon of ideological terrorism is confronted. 

David Cameron refused to put British boots on the ground, both in Syria and Libya. He was prompted by the memory of Tony Blair's utterly ill-advised commitment of forces to the US-led coalition for the invasion of Iraq. Blair had   shared a bogey with the US supposedly based on intelligence reports that Saddam Hussein could hurl his weapons of mass destruction (WMD which did not exist) on a 45-minute notice. Incidentally, Tony Blair participated in the Remain Campaign, possibly impacting negatively on it because he lacked credence. 

At any rate, the Syrian and Libyan crises marked by a stark western ambivalence interspersed with aerial bombardments and Russia's bolstering of the Assad regime, keep the pot boiling across a vast region. Daesh's hit and run wars coupled with sectarian conflicts accentuate mass exodus of people with the West, for the most part, playing a reluctant host to.

The European project suddenly appears shambolic and the world wakes up to the dangers of populism and xenophobia. 

The British sense of humour waxed cruel terming the predicament a 'schoolboy rivalry' spilling over to the national stage. On a serious note, it appeared inevitable though. 

The European Parliament has been the guardian of all freedoms including the right to free movement from the East to the West Europe and vice versa. Free movement was non-negotiable in EU terms spawning pockets in Britain with an acute shortage of housing, school, hospital facilities for the majority British people. 

Michael Howard, the former Tory leader had summed up the concerns under three heads: (a) unfettered migration and the need for border control; (b) size of British contribution to the EU to the tune of 350m sterling pounds gross per week; and (c) supremacy of the British courts.

The British people looked in awe at the powers of the European parliament and judiciary over those of Britain. In a supposedly con-federal structure, over-federalism threatened to dilute national sovereignties. 

The European Union which the protagonists of regional groupings hold up as example might lose their appeal should the EU and Britain fail to cut a conciliatory deal.  

Norwegian and Swiss sovereign models are being aired for UK by some troubleshooters; but European leaders are  in no mood to  entertain it because the concessions given to them were from the very start and may not be considered for a 43-year-old entrenched member country like Great Britain. This misses out on a common denominator enjoyed by the two countries in their unflinching support to free movement of people which the UK wants circumscribed. The time for cherry-picking is over for Britain. 

A measure of British strength is provided by the fact that its trade balance with the EU is favourable to an extent of about US$ 90 billion. Its biggest trade partner is Germany with which it transacts US$ 94 billion worth of business. 

Some interesting residual facts to be taken into account : One, a section of people, mostly unemployed, weighed in on the Brexit citing examples of jobs taken over by European migrants. And it was sizable. Two, most of the younger generations likely to be driven by a patriotic urge and take up challenges voted for the Remain option! And three, in an exaggerated feat of self-esteem Nigel Farage, who spearheaded the Leave Campaign had the temerity to suggest that there should be a 'Brexit government' in the transition. David Cameron dismissed the idea with the disdain it deserved. He emphatically declared the Tory government's legitimate entitlement to a caretaker role following its convincing election to second term only last December. 

The Sunday Times carried two splendid articles on the eve of the referendum by reputed columnists Rod Riddle and A. Gill .Riddle wrote,(quote)If we stay in EU, we will be consigning ourselves to a future that resembles the old USSR; no dissent, no alternative point of view permitted(unquote).

Gill said, (quote)We all know what getting our country back means ; it is snorting a line of that most pernicious and debilitating little English drug, nostalgia(unquote).

Cameron on return from Brussels reported the outcome of his talks with EU leaders thus: "Lots of sympathy, sadness, understanding and compassion from rest of EU clan. They said uncertainty both for EU and UK is not conducive and that a blueprint is necessary to be submitted by his successor as soon as possible."

This sets the scene, if not the stage. God speed, Britain!

The writer is a contributor to The Daily Star. He can be reached at shahhusainimam@gmail.com