Remainers are nostalgic too: An exploration of attitudes towards the past and Brexit preferences. (17th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Richards, Lindsay; Heath, Anthony; Elgenius, Gabriella
• Is Part Of: British journal of sociology. Volume 71:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 80
• Publication Date: 2019-11-17
• Subjects: Brexit -- egalitarian nostalgia -- social change -- ethnic exclusion -- traditional nostalgia; Sociology -- Periodicals; 301.05
• DOI: 10.1111/1468-4446.12710
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1315

Abstract

Abstract: Nostalgia had a prominent place in the Brexit Referendum campaign, epitomized by Nigel Farage carrying around with him an old‐fashioned blue British passport on the campaign trail. In this paper, we seek to examine British attitudes towards the past through a new survey instrument administered online in July and August 2018 ( N = 3, 000). We empirically establish two dimensions of nostalgia that are differentially associated with political preferences. We conclude that it is the substance of the nostalgia that matters, not the looking towards the past per se.