Globally alone: the UK's foreign policy after Brexit

The chapter highlights the prospects for the UK’s foreign policy after Brexit. Leaving the EU will have dramatic implications for British foreign policy. The UK will lose all those paybacks deriving from being part of a collective polity such as the EU. While losing its influence in Europe, the UK seems to be trudging through international politics while seeking a global role. Such a new role is based on the revival of old narratives and their roots in the country’s history, including the controversial empire era. Relying on discourse analysis of official speeches on the UK and EU membership, and combining role theory and critical geopolitics, this chapter discusses Global Britain’s role, pointing out its vagueness and limits.