Hegel and the political philosophy of Brexit

Great Britain's vote to exit the Europen Union came as a shock to many scholars of international relations, sociologists, political scientists, and economists. But, first of all, it came as a shock to Britons themselves and to a lot of other European citizens. This article analyzes the main features of one of the most important political events of 2016 through the lens of Hegel's political philosophy, aiming to understand how major political events can shape the future of a society in new, intriguing and potentially positive ways. It also examines how Hegel himself might have interpreted the founding principles of the European Union and, within its political development, Brexit.