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Where Have All the ‘Exiters’ Gone? Contextualising the Concept of Hard Euroscepticism

Author

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  • Vratislav Havlík
  • Vít Hloušek

Abstract

The article analyses the impact of Brexit on hard Eurosceptic discourses in the Visegrád Group countries from 2015 to 2023. As the negative implications of Brexit for the UK economy became clear, many hard Eurosceptics softened their rhetoric, using the referendum as a proxy for a ‘hard’ exit. Whilst the classical soft–hard typology remains dominant amongst scholars in the study of Euroscepticism, the case of Brexit shows that long‐term principled opposition to the European Union (EU) can hide behind equivocal rhetoric. The article suggests studying the changing tactics of Eurosceptics by matching current EU and domestic contexts together with the long‐term points of departure of hard Eurosceptics.

Suggested Citation

  • Vratislav Havlík & Vít Hloušek, 2025. "Where Have All the ‘Exiters’ Gone? Contextualising the Concept of Hard Euroscepticism," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 63(2), pages 351-368, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jcmkts:v:63:y:2025:i:2:p:351-368
    DOI: 10.1111/jcms.13602
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chris Flood, 2009. "Dimensions of Euroscepticism," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(4), pages 911-917, September.
    2. Reinhard Heinisch & Duncan McDonnell & Annika Werner, 2021. "Equivocal Euroscepticism: How Populist Radical Right Parties Can Have Their EU Cake and Eat It," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(2), pages 189-205, March.
    3. Francesco Nicoli, 2017. "Hard-line Euroscepticism and the Eurocrisis: Evidence from a Panel Study of 108 Elections Across Europe," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(2), pages 312-331, March.
    4. Kaniok, Petr & Komínková, Magda, 2022. "Hard and Soft Euroscepticism in the European Parliament," European Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 30(1), pages 79-95, February.
    5. repec:bla:jcmkts:v:47:y:2009:i::p:911-917 is not listed on IDEAS
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