Crisis, what crisis? Conceptualizing crisis, UK pluri-constitutionalism and Brexit politics. Issue 9 (2nd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wincott, Daniel; Davies, Gregory; Wager, Alan
• Is Part Of: Regional studies. Volume 55:Issue 9(2021)
• Page Start: 1528
• Page End: 1537
• Publication Date: 2021-09-02
• Subjects: Brexit -- crisis -- UK constitution -- pluri-constitutionalism -- Anglo-British imaginary -- devolution; H70 -- H77 -- K1; Regional planning -- Periodicals; Regional planning -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 307.14
• DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2020.1805423
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-3404

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Has Brexit triggered a constitutional crisis? Crisis is one of a family of concepts, including tipping points, catastrophic equilibrium and failure, identifying it as a decisive moment for overcoming contradictions and ambiguities. Across multiple UK levels – the whole state, constituent nations and different legal jurisdictions – even in 'normal times' the constitution has been marked by both a dominant 'Anglo-British imaginary' and territorial ambiguities. Drawn into political debate, these ambiguities became sources of basic constitutional instability during Theresa May's premiership. Although May avoided full-blown constitutional crisis, one may yet come. Equally, she did oversee basic constitutional change, not necessarily in the form of crisis.