Impact of Rising Nationalism on The Global Governance: Case of Brexit and European Union

Abstract

The revival of nationalism is an increasingly visible and influential trend shaping contemporary international relations and political discourse. Across regions, nationalistic sentiments have challenged the established norms and institutional structures of international governance, leading to significant geopolitical shifts. This paper critically examines the resurgence of nationalism through a focused case study of Brexit—the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU)—which stands as a seminal event in 21st-century global politics. The 2016 referendum, resulting in the UK’s departure from the EU, is explored not merely as a domestic political development, but as a manifestation of deeper ideological and systemic tensions between national sovereignty and supranational governance. Through an interdisciplinary framework combining political theory, EU law, and international relations scholarship, the paper analyzes the economic, political, and institutional ramifications of Brexit. It illustrates how nationalist movements erode multilateralism, challenge the legitimacy of transnational institutions, and reshape foreign policy priorities around self-determination and border control. Furthermore, the paper contextualizes Brexit within broader global patterns of democratic backsliding, populist rhetoric, and the reassertion of state-centric ideologies.