Read on Twitter
I think if you're British Muslim and/or British desi the case for Brexit is fairly strong:
1. Anglospheric liberalism is much more compatible with religious liberty than continental laïcité
2. Desis have centuries of connection to Britain but almost none to "Europe"
1. Anglospheric liberalism is much more compatible with religious liberty than continental laïcité
2. Desis have centuries of connection to Britain but almost none to "Europe"
3. There is greater prospect of getting rich in Britain. Also, one's advancement is to a greater extent determined by impersonal market forces than by the favour of the state etc (which are likely to be biased against minorities). These facts suit immigrants and their ambitions.
The above three points should give British Muslims and British desis prima facie reason to be sceptical of greater European integration.
British institutions, policies, and identities all else being equal will be less conducive to these groups the more EU-ified they become.
British institutions, policies, and identities all else being equal will be less conducive to these groups the more EU-ified they become.
The more our institutions, policies, laws, and so on are determined at an EU-wide level than on a British level, the more they will reflect European ideas and practices than they will British ones
I think the best counterarguments are:
i) The benefits of EU membership outweigh these costs; or
ii) We can remain in the EU and enjoy its benefits whilst remaining sufficiently independent that we don't or we hardly bear these costs.
i) The benefits of EU membership outweigh these costs; or
ii) We can remain in the EU and enjoy its benefits whilst remaining sufficiently independent that we don't or we hardly bear these costs.
I should add that this isn't merely about continental laïcité, but ethnonationalism and bigotry more broadly.
France, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, etc etc are hardly welcoming places for Muslims or immigrants.
France, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, etc etc are hardly welcoming places for Muslims or immigrants.
Sh AHM saying something we must take heed of, as always: https://twitter.com/mrbainton/status/1339695804995563520?s=19
