Brexit: The Empire That Failed
Share
Subscribe
Ten years after the Brexit referendum, Britain is still living with its political and cultural consequences. In this episode, Luke Cooper is joined by Kojo Koram and Alena Ivanova to ask what Brexit was really about—and why its legacy continues to shape British politics.
Was Brexit simply a revolt against Brussels, or did it reflect a deeper desire to restore Britain's imperial place in the world? The conversation explores Brexit as a colonial project, the normalisation of anti-migrant politics, the relationship between tech billionaires and the far right, and why the promise to "take back control" ultimately failed to deliver.
In the second half, Kojo discusses his new book The Next Fix, examining how the war on drugs has evolved from prohibition to profit, and what today's drug policies reveal about power, capitalism, policing and empire.
In This Episode
- 10 years after Brexit: what actually changed?
- Why "take back control" proved so difficult to deliver
- The rise of Reform UK and the mainstreaming of anti-migrant politics
- Tech oligarchs, democracy and the new far right
- Is Brexit best understood as a colonial project?
- Drug policy, policing and the future of criminal justice
Guests
Kojo Koram is an award-winning writer and an academic, teaching at the School of Law at Birkbeck College, University of London. His new book, The Next Fix : The Winners and Losers in the Future of Drugs asks whether the War on Drugs is really over – or merely changing its chemical formula. Buy your copy here.
Alena Ivanova is a workers’ rights campaigner and a member of the National Committee for Another Europe is Possible.
Mentioned
- The Next Fix : The Winners and Losers in the Future of Drugs by Kojo Karam
- Uncommon Wealth : Britain and the Aftermath of Empire by Kojo Karam
- The Observer: Britain has an opportunity to lead the fight against dirty money. Now all it needs is the will
- Tom Nairn: Scottish political theorist
If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to COUNTER•POWER for more discussions on global solidarity, democracy, international politics and the movements shaping our world.
If you'd like to support the podcast and help us produce more episodes, please consider becoming a supporter.
Follow Us
Instagram
@anothereuropeispossible
@globaljusticenow
@ukstoptrump
TikTok
@global.justice.now
@uk.stop.trump.coa
Twitter / X
@Another_Europe
@GlobalJusticeUK
@UKStopTrump
Music(cc): Intro R&B instrumental loop, Mcgrogo (Freesound.org)
"Brexit" by --Sam-- is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Banksy does Brexit (detail)" by dullhunk is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Nigel Farage" by Michael Vadon is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.