The authors of this book were asked to examine the issue of Britain
leaving the EU and determine, from an economic or political economy
point of view, what the appropriate role of international
institutions should be in this debate. They were then asked to
relate this to the reality that exists under the status quo or that
might exist if Brexit occurred. In doing this, the volume can help
achieve three objectives. First, it provides an analysis of the
role that international institutions should play in the economic
life of a free society. This is important, and rarely discussed in
policy debates. In general, policy discussion tends to revolve
around how to tweak the status quo - should we have more EU
involvement in climate change policy or military intervention by
the UN in this or that case, for example. Second, the authors
implicitly lay out what a renegotiation agenda ought to look like
if a country (whether Britain or not) wishes to reform the EU in a
liberal direction, now or at some future time. At the time of
writing this foreword, it is clear that David Cameron's agenda is
not nearly radical enough, though it remains to be seen whether
even that will be achieved. Indeed, it is not clear that the
proposals of the UK government will even take the EU in the right
direction. Any serious agenda to create a new settlement should
start from first principles and take into consideration for what
purposes the institution should exist. This would provide a
benchmark against which success can be measured. Third, the authors
provide a framework within which the practical options of remaining
with a reformed EU and Brexit can be analysed. There are some
authors who do not believe that international institutions are at
all important in the area they discuss. Others believe that
international cooperation can take place through bespoke, informal
or ad hoc mechanisms, and that the EU itself need have no role.
Presumably, in these cases, Brexit would be the logical way to get
the best policy outcome. Another group of authors believes that a
reformed or slimmed-down role for the EU would be satisfactory, or
that the restraints that the EU currently puts on member states are
really important in guaranteeing economic liberalism. As far as
these areas are concerned, a renegotiated (or, in some cases,
unreformed) EU would be the best option. One interesting issue is
raised that perhaps transcends the discussions of particular policy
areas. Rather than trying to renegotiate a better deal when it
comes to labour market regulation or agriculture, it might be
better to try to reshape the institutions of the EU. There might be
wider support for that, and, in the long term, better institutions
could lead to better policy. Overall, this is an important and
unique contribution to the discussion about Britain's relationship
with the EU. In the white noise of the referendum debate, serious
long-term analysis of the precise role that international
institutions should play in a free society, grounded in the context
of the reality of the EU's current role, is refreshing. Its
relevance will long outlive the referendum on Brexit that is likely
to take place in the next 18 months.
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