‘Slow Change May Pull us Apart’: Debating a British Exit from the European Union

With a referendum set to take place on 23 June 2016 in a large and importantEuropean Union (EU) member state on whether it should remain within theUnion or leave altogether, this year will prove crucial for all Europeanists.Brexit is a real possibility that both the Union and other member states mustbe prepared to plan for and eventually absorb the potential impact of. Whilstthe process of ‘will they, won’t they’ will continue until the referendum, andeven beyond, this level of uncertainty creates challenges for the existingactors with a stake in the process. This introductory contribution will set thescene for the ensuing debate, which flows from the various perspectives thateach of the authors have with regard to the ultimate question of a Brexit. Thethree editors introduce the legal, political and economic themes that runthrough the articles, whilst simultaneously attempting to map out thetrajectory for if, when and how a Brexit may actually occur, given the differingperspectives in the debate.