Brexit and the Emergence of a Transnational European Community of Practice
Research paper by Michaela Benson, Catherine Craven and Nando Sigona from MIGZEN, based on data collected through the ESRC-funded research project Rebordering Britain and Britons after Brexit.
Abstract: “Brexit ignited an unprecedented sense of shared European identity and belonging, catalysing pro-EU social movements among EU nationals in the United Kingdom and amongst British citizens residing in the EU and leading to the formation of a transnational European community of practice. This mobilisation coalesced around grassroots organisations whose claim-making strategy was rooted in the institution of EU citizenship, which also grounded their legitimacy. Drawing on a relational approach to diasporic and transnational social movements, mixed methods empirical research including the findings of an online survey of mobile citizens (n = 1919), archival and documentary analysis, expert interviews and policy analysis, the article analyses the significance of supranational political opportunity structures to the emergence of a transnational European community of practice during Brexit and the formation of an alliance between two of the primary grassroots organisations advocating for citizens' rights – the3million and British in Europe.”
"By the onset of Brexit negotiations, political and legal organising around Brexit had scaled up beyond local and regional initiatives, with two organisations leading the charge: the3million and British in Europe, acting on behalf of EU nationals in the United Kingdom and British citizens in the EU, respectively."
"By 31 March 2017, and despite the statement in November 2016 from European Council President Donald Tusk that he would like ‘to avoid a situation where citizens become “bargaining chips” in the negotiation process’, proposals on the guidelines for the Brexit negotiations made clear that citizens' rights would be decided by bilateral agreement, to be dealt with in the first phase of the negotiations.
Testament to the solidarity established between British in Europe and the3million was their persistent refusal to accept the divisive terms of this framing. In their letter to the Editor of the Financial Times in December 2017, the Chairs of British in Europe and the3million condemned the negotiations as a form of ‘horse trading’ and demonstrated their solidarity with one another that would continue to characterise their engagements with the EC, UK Government and political representatives throughout the negotiations."
"what continues is the joint lobbying by the3million and British in Europe of British political parties on behalf of their constituent memberships."
"For the3million, activities remain firmly focussed on those EU citizens who arrived in the United Kingdom before Brexit, holding the UK Government to account in the implementation of the withdrawal agreement and at times partnering up with other migrant rights' organisations where their interests align (for example, they have been collaborating with Hongkongers in Britain to raise awareness of the pitfalls of digital, online-only immigration status – where online signals the lack of paper documentation – and with digital rights' campaigns)."
