Brexit and its Geopolitical and Economic Ramifications
International Relations
- PYQs7
- Articles1
Background
Brexit serves as a crucial case study for understanding the complexities of international relations, economic integration vs. national sovereignty, the rise of populism, and the challenges faced by developed economies in a globalized world. It has implications for global trade, migration policies, and the future of regional blocs.
Brexit refers to the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, a political and economic union of 27 member states located primarily in Europe. The decision, made via a referendum in 2016, marked a significant shift in global geopolitics and international trade relations, raising questions about economic integration, national sovereignty, and the future of multilateralism.
Facts & tables
- Referendum Date
- June 23, 2016 (52% Leave, 48% Remain)
- Official Withdrawal Date
- January 31, 2020
- Economic Impact
- Widely cited as a drag on UK trade, investment, and productivity due to loss of unfettered access to the EU single market.
- Political Impact
- Led to significant political instability in the UK, marked by frequent changes in leadership and deep societal divisions.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| European Union (EU) | International organization from which uk withdrew |
| United Kingdom Government | National government implementing brexit and managing its consequences |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- UK voted to leave EU in 2016 referendum.
- Resulted in economic stagnation, trade disruption, and political instability.
- Fueled by populist sentiment regarding immigration and sovereignty.
- Led to increased non-EU immigration post-Brexit.
- Case study for economic integration vs. national control.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2025 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships |
| 2024 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2018 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
Timeline
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International Relations
Conceptual area
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Prelims 2018
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships
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Prelims 2024
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Britain after Brexit, divided, uncertain and stagnant
Brexit, the UK's departure from the EU, has resulted in significant economic costs, political instability, and deep societal divisions, challenging the notion of increased control and highlighting the trade-offs of economic integration.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2018–2026 · 5 questions
In the news
Britain after Brexit, divided, uncertain and stagnant
Brexit, the UK's departure from the EU, has resulted in significant economic costs, political instability, and deep societal divisions, challenging the notion of increased control and highlighting the trade-offs of economic integration.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'
Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to begin technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?
* Statement 1 is correct: Trade and Technology Council was launched by the the United States of America and the European Union during the EU-US Summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Trade and Technology council, the USA and EU does not aim to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control. Rather the initiative intends to promote pooling of digital resources such as AI models and computing power, and make them available to partner countries to address challenges in areas such as climate change and extreme weather, healthcare or smart agriculture.
Which of the following countries are members of the European Union ?
1. Belarus
2. Poland
3. Germany
4. Switzerland
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Belarus is an Eastern European country that is not a member of the European Union. It maintains close political and economic ties with Russia and has never formally applied for EU membership. Statement 2 is Correct: Poland is a full member state of the European Union. It joined the bloc during the major eastward expansion in May 2004. Statement 3 is Correct: Germany is a full member state of the European Union. It is one of the original six founding members of the EU's predecessor, the European Economic Community, established in 1957. Statement 4 is Incorrect: Switzerland is not an EU member state. Although it is geographically surrounded by the EU and participates in the EU's single market and the Schengen Area through a series of bilateral treaties, it maintains its historic neutrality. It is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) instead. Therefore, the correct answer is 2 and 3.
Consider the following countries :
1. Australia
2. Canada
3. China
4. India
5. Japan
6. USA
Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ASEAN?
ASEAN has five free trade agreements (FTAs) with six Dialogue Partners, namely China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, and Australia and New Zealand. All Parties have ratified the FTA Agreements. USA is not a dialogue partner of ASEAN. So, they don't share a free trade agreement.
Consider the following pairs:
Country - Important reason for being in the news recently
1. Chad – Setting up of permanent military base by China.
2. Guinea – Suspension of Constitution and Government by military
3. Lebanon – Severe and prolonged economic depression
4. Tunisia – Suspension of Parliament by President
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. China has not established any permanent military base in Chad. Pair 2 is correctly matched. Guinean special forces staged a coup, captured President Alpha Conde, replaced governors with the military, and dissolved the constitution and National Assembly. Pair 3 is correctly matched. Lebanon has been experiencing a severe and prolonged economic depression since 2019, driven by political instability, inadequate reforms, and systemic corruption. The economic crisis has affected approximately 74% of the population. Pair 4 is correctly matched. Tunisian President Kais Saied dissolved the suspended parliament after lawmakers held an online meeting and voted to repeal presidential decrees. He called it a failed coup attempt.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.
Statement-II: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Statement-I: Incorrect. Venezuela continues to suffer from a severe economic crisis marked by hyperinflation, shortages of basic goods, and political instability. This crisis has led to a massive exodus of Venezuelans seeking better living conditions in neighboring countries and beyond. Statement-II: Correct. Venezuela indeed possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, surpassing even Saudi Arabia. However, despite this vast resource wealth, economic mismanagement, corruption, and international sanctions have crippled its oil industry and hindered its ability to leverage this asset for economic recovery.
Show 2 more PYQs
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. This statement is correct as the Sahel region has been experiencing significant instability and security challenges, including terrorism, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises. * Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past. This statement is also correct. Several countries in the Sahel region, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad, have experienced military coups in recent years. * Statement-II explains Statement-I because the military takeovers and coups contribute to the instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. The political instability resulting from these coups disrupts governance, exacerbates conflict, and undermines efforts to address security and development challenges in the region.
Consider the following countries:
I. Austria
II. Bulgaria
III. Croatia
IV. Serbia
V. Sweden
VI. North Macedonia
How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?
❌ I. Austria - Not a NATO member (maintains neutrality). ✅ II.Bulgaria - NATO member (joined in 2004). ✅ III. Croatia - NATO member (joined in 2009). ❌ IV.Serbia - Not a NATO member (participates in Partnership for Peace, but not a full member). ✅ V. Sweden - NATO member (officially joined in March 2024). ✅ VI. North Macedonia - NATO member (joined in 2020). So, four of the listed countries are members of NATO: Bulgaria, Croatia, Sweden, and North Macedonia.