Europe Faces Brexit And Britain Faces Chaos

After perhaps the most tumultuous week in British politics in recent history, the question of what Brexit means for the wider European political context has been almost completely drowned out by the shambolic posturing in Westminster.

In the end, whatever the outcome of the entire sordid process of leaving the EU for Britain itself, the resonance of Brexit across the English Channel will be equally important for UK–EU relations long after everyone has forgotten the names of the rotating cast of characters who have served as UK Brexit Secretary.

Talking Politics, presented by David Runciman and Helen Thompson from Runciman's office at the University of Cambridge, attempts to get behind the rhetoric and grandstanding and examine British politics with history and the globe in mind. This episode focusses on the implications of Brexit for the UK's EU "partners" and seeks to contextualise Brexit as part of a wider European malaise particularly affecting Italy and France. 

Joining Runciman are Lucia Rubinelli and Chris Bickerton. Rubinelli considers the crisis afflicting the Italian government as the coalition partners (the Five Star Movement and the far-right League) jockey for power in regional elections, noting that while the xenophobic League has consolidated its base, the Five Star is now facing a weakening of support, suggesting their coalition may not last long.

Considerable bickering has taken place between the government of Italy and France in recent weeks, not least when the Italian PM met members of the Gilets Jaunes movement. Bickerton explores the implications of the movement, which he describes as a manifestation of a kind of class war.

With traditional parties' fortunes in France waning, the movement looks to be contributing to an ongoing instability in France that all the guests agree is among the most serious crises in Europe at the moment. Brexit, it seems, is just a footnote. Knowing as much is quite informative in itself.