Anti-establishment protest can break out even within formally conservative parties

Evidence

To the great shock of the liberal press, and the political establishment, Brexit carried the vote, with 52 percent of the country voting to leave the European Union. … In addition to its xenophobic turn, something else about the Brexit campaign surprised political analysts. The attitude might have been summed up by the answer that Lord Chancellor Michael Gove gave to a journalist who pointed out that many experts believed leaving the EU would actually harm Britain’s economy. Gove told him that “the people of this country have had enough of experts with organizations with acronyms saying that they know what is best.” More than just a question of policy, Brexit was an opportunity to stick it to the establishment. … When given this chance over the past few decades, citizens around the world have almost always taken it—from 2003, when Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California, to Brazilian clown Tiririca’s overwhelming victory. In Britain, it didn’t matter that this sentiment was delivered by a middle-aged government official with the title of “Lord Chancellor”—it got people excited. — Vincent Bevins, If We Burn, 592

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Anti-establishment protest can be expressed through absurdist comedy and electoral jokes — Vincent Bevins, If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and…, 180; Base expansion plans in conservative regions can trigger broad, diverse protest coalitions — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 897; A worldwide wave of anti-establishment movements-from Tea Party to Gezi-Park broke out 2009-2013 — Anton Jäger, Hyperpolitics: Extreme Politicization…, 167 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Base expansion plans in conservative regions can trigger broad, diverse protest coalitions #exemplifies (0.80) — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 897
• A worldwide wave of anti-establishment movements-from Tea Party to Gezi-Park broke out 2009-2013 #exemplifies (0.78) — Anton Jäger, Hyperpolitics, 167