Mapping social science research on Brexit and migration

This article, based on the Robert Menzies Lecture delivered by the author in London on 31 October 2017, provides a survey of Britain and Australia’s bilateral relationship from the 1930s to the present. In the earlier period particular attention is given to the role of Sir Robert Menzies.

Recalling the debate about Britain’s applications to join the European Economic Community in the 1960s, Australians are now reacting to and assessing the implications of the Brexit vote for Australia. However, the contemporary situation is very different from that which prevailed in the 1960s.

Australia has historically focused on areas of disagreement with the European Union (EU) at the expense of establishing a more broad-based relationship. These areas of disagreement are the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), historically, and, to a lesser extent, the eurozone crisis.

In this article, we introduce the key themes of our Special Issue on “Transnational care: families confronting borders”.