The Reformation and Brexit. History, historiography and the position of the United Kingdom in Europe

Methuen, C. (2018) The Reformation and Brexit. History, historiography and the position of the United Kingdom in Europe. Internationale Kirchliche Zeitschrift, 108(3-4), pp. 185-204.

Abstract

This article explores the use of the English Reformation as a motif in the debates about Brexit. It argues that such references, which are often highly polemic, mirror an ambiguity about the relationship between the English and the continental Reformation which is deep-rooted in the historiography of the English Reformation. In contrast, the historiography of the Scottish Reformation recognises a clear influence from Geneva, affirming the links between the Church of Scotland and other Reformed churches. The final section considers how confessional identity correlated with voting patterns in the 2016 EU referendum, and contrasts these to the results of the 1975 referendum on membership of the European Economic Community (EEC).

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Reformation, EU referendum, Reformation historiography, English Reformation, Scottish Reformation, Brexit.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Methuen, Professor Charlotte
• Authors: Methuen, C.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity; B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BX Christian Denominations; D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain; D History General and Old World > DD Germany
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Journal Name: Internationale Kirchliche Zeitschrift
• Publisher: Staempfli Verlag
• ISSN: 0020-9252