Brexit: are pro-European grassroots activists a community?

Abstract

In the aftermath of the referendum on continued membership of the European Union, the United Kingdom was left in disarray and pro-Europeans in shock. Since 23 June 2016 British people have been sucked in the Brexit turmoil and whilst 52% of British citizens voted to leave, some activists lost confidence in politics and have decided to stop Brexit. Feeling abandoned, ignored and fooled by their politicians, ‘Remainers’ have rekindled their love for Europe by setting up local grassroots campaign groups to keep the UK in the EU. This paper will examine grassroots activism in the UK and Europe and whether or not they constitute a community. Empirical data collected between 2017 and 2019 will allow us to know more about their organisation, structure and long-term goals. More importantly field work will try to show whether the grassroots pro-EU movement shows similarities with what defines a community. From activists operating locally to Millbank Tower in the heart of the City, where national groups gathered in April 2018, for the past four years pro-EU activists have been joining forces to make their attachment to Europe heard and visible.