Joji Sakurai

Europe’s opponents of immigration may be triumphant about Brexit, but the crowing won’t last long in countries that depend on the European Union for technical advice, aid, trade and foreign investment that allowed them to outperform the European Union as a whole. “To hear the rhetoric, one might assume that ‘Huxit’ or ‘Czexit’—departures by Hungary or the Czech Republic—may be around the corner, writes journalist Joji Sakurai. ”Brexit is a calamity with deep negative implications for their economies, political aspirations, strategic and diplomatic priorities, and their demographics and labor markets.” Britain has been an ally for the Central European countries on limiting EU bureaucracy and interference with domestic policies as well as taking a generally strong stance on Russian aggression. New member states benefiting from the EU’s strong and single market may stall on showing Great Britain the door.

It might seem odd but two inward-looking countries from old Europe and the Pacific, troubled twins with such strong cultures, offer insights into the future of globalization: Italy has “campanilismo,” or loyalty to the village bell-tower. The Japanese talk about “takotsubo-ka,” being caught in the clay pot that traps octopus.

Europe’s opponents of immigration may be triumphant about Brexit, but the crowing won’t last long in countries that depend on the European Union for technical advice, aid, trade and foreign investment that allowed them to outperform the European Union as a whole. “To hear the rhetoric, one might assume that ‘Huxit’ or ‘Czexit’—departures by Hungary or the Czech Republic—may be around the corner, writes journalist Joji Sakurai. ”Brexit is a calamity with deep negative implications for their economies, political aspirations, strategic and diplomatic priorities, and their demographics and labor markets.” Britain has been an ally for the Central European countries on limiting EU bureaucracy and interference with domestic policies as well as taking a generally strong stance on Russian aggression. New member states benefiting from the EU’s strong and single market may stall on showing Great Britain the door.

It might seem odd but two inward-looking countries from old Europe and the Pacific, troubled twins with such strong cultures, offer insights into the future of globalization: Italy has “campanilismo,” or loyalty to the village bell-tower. The Japanese talk about “takotsubo-ka,” being caught in the clay pot that traps octopus.