A post-national EU diaspora? Political mobilization of EU citizens in the UK post-Brexit

This article analyses the political engagement and mobilization of the EU citizens post-Brexit and investigates the extent to which these have led to the creation of an EU diaspora in the UK. Qualitative research took place in Liverpool and Southport-two different localities in the North West of the UK that have attracted EU citizens of different demographics. The project included participants from 18 EU different countries, which afforded the investigation of dynamics and different positionalities within the EU population in the UK. These positionalities, the findings show, are broadly organized around a typology that is underpinned by the (geo)politics of the EU: national and regional stances; EU-oriented stances; non-alignment. While Brexit triggered a stronger European identity and mobilization on the basis of it, the orientation toward, and investment in, the EU diasporic mobilization among EU citizens differs due to these positionalities. The findings, therefore, point toward the creation of a post-national EU diaspora in the UK, but also identify the strength of national and regional identities, which could indicate the development of different gravity diaspora points in future, nested in the EU diaspora. The differences in demographics and social capital within the EU citizens population across the UK have implications for local dimensions of the EU diaspora and its impact and legacy in the medium and long term.

Automated summary

This article analyzes the political engagement and mobilization of EU citizens in the UK post-Brexit, and investigates the formation of an EU diaspora in the country. The findings suggest that EU citizens in the UK hold different positions, including national and regional stances, EU-oriented stances, and non-alignment. While Brexit has led to increased European identity and mobilization, the level of orientation and investment in the EU diaspora among EU citizens varies based on these positions.