Brexit as ‘politics of division’: social media campaigning after the referendum

The UK’s referendum on EU membership that resulted in a narrow minority favour of leave was followed by leadership vacuum and intense debate about the implementation result. politicization over Brexit development ‘Brexit identities’ Remainers Leavers superseded party identities. We argue order to understand how this took place despite we firstly need look beyond arena formal politics more informal arenas political contestation social media, especially Facebook, secondly linkages between national level polarised country around new British-specific Through this, analyse ‘politics division’ not simply as form contentious driven parties, but conflict non-institutionalised groups, grassroots campaigns ordinary citizens. find evidence significant mobilisation extends realm cannot necessarily be considered entirely ‘grassroots’. Rather, it is just citizens also shaped mainstream alternative media platforms. debates cannot, however, purely politicization, rather, analysis Facebook comments shows through these primarily nature legitimacy British democracy. Because an essential site for study general.