PM Express: There's no logic when voting on nationalist grounds – policy analyst

A Senior Research Fellow at the Legon Center for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD) says it is difficult for electorates to listen to reason when they are motivated by nationalism.

Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso said the feeling of nationalism often has a revolutionary twist clouding the brain of electorates especially in the face of a contrary view.

“There are several causes that set the ground for nationalism but when people are voting on the national ground there is no logic,” he said.

The renowned Foreign Policy analyst said this on the Joynews/MultiTV’s news analysis programme, PM Express, when reacting to the vote by the Brits to exit the European Union (EU).

The United Kingdom (UK) voted to leave the EU on June 23 in a referendum largely described as landmark election.

The UK Prime Minister, David Cameron who was a leading member of the Remain team was defeated by 52 percent to 48 percent despite backing from London, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to stay in the Union.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has described the day as a UK’s “independence day”, with a leading member of the Leave campaign, Boris Johnson saying the result does not mean “pulling up the drawbridge”.

Many people have described the result of the election as legendary since they never anticipated the outcome.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted dire economic consequences for the UK if it voted out, but this did little to influence the direction of the election.

Dr Antwi-Danso said the IMF warning could not have influenced the decision of the people especially when the motivating force was nationalism.

He blamed David Cameron for holding a referendum at a time when the whole of EU was facing serious migration challenges especially the influx of migrants from the Middle East.

“David Cameron made a big mistake for causing the referendum at such a time when Europe was facing migration challenges,” he said.

Security analyst, Irbad Ibrahim
Security expert, Irbad Ibrahim did not see sporadic changes in UK laws especially bothering on migration and trade as many people have predicted.

“We won’t see an immediate impact,” he said, adding, voting out does not shred into pieces the existing arrangements with other countries.

He disclosed results of the UK referendum was triggered by the fact that the “UK people are not people being told what to do”.

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Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected]