Greater attention should be paid to the consequences of a ‘Brexit’ for the EU and other states around the world, not just the UK

The UK’s EU membership is likely to be a key issue in the 2015 British general election campaign: a point underlined by the defection last week of the Conservative MP Douglas Carswell to UKIP. Almut Möller and Tim Oliver write that while the issue is of obvious significance within the UK, a potential ‘Brexit’ is also extremely important for other states within the EU and across the world. Presenting insights from a comprehensive report on the views within 26 separate states to the UK leaving the EU, they note that the way Britain’s EU debate is perceived across the world will have an important role in shaping the country’s future relationship with Europe.