Brexit and Immigration: Controlling Borders or Keeping Foreigners Out?

On June 23, 2016, the Brexit referendum was held with 51.9% of those who voted supporting the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.  Three main issues dominated the Brexit conversation:  sovereignty, trade, and immigration.  Of these, the most contentious issue was immigration.  Supporters of Brexit argued that its passing would give the UK badly needed control over its borders, but detractors saw it as simply a xenophobic, racist way of keeping foreigners out.

The UK is not the only country to be wrestling with this issue.  In fact, several other European countries (as well as Brazil and the United States) are engaged in similar debates.  Numerous related issues have also come to the fore, including multiculturalism, the increasing threat of terrorism, and the rise of nationalism.  Many have warned of the possible erosion of democratic values if these issues are not peacefully and rationally resolved.

Want to learn more about Brexit and the connection to immigration? Check out our Research Guide.

The Worst Deal Ever?

The United States formally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (AKA "The Iran Nuclear Deal") on May 8, 2018.  Former president Barack Obama considers the deal one of his signature accomplishments while president of the United States and an essential element in keeping the peace in not only the Middle East, but the world. Yet, current president Donald Trump has called it a "horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made." As with most stories in the news, this one is complex, with a long history. The resources presented on the Research Guide will allow you to look at the deal itself, the history behind it, the key players, and the accompanying elements and form your own opinion.

Introduction to Ripped from the Headlines

Stories in the news rarely come out of nowhere. In fact, many of them are the culmination of long histories. They also don't have just one side or one interpretation. Nor do they happen in a vacuum -- they often affect, and are affected by, many other things around them. In order to fully understand the stories we see, hear, or read about, we need some background so that we can put the stories into context and begin to form our own opinions about what happened and what the implications are.

The University of Kentucky Libraries has a wealth of resources that can be used to gain that understanding. We have databases and books covering scholarly material on almost every topic -- from politics and economics to history and science. Here you can find out how scholars who are experts in their fields have interpreted and analyzed the issues that have lead up to our current day situation. We also have access to the latest current events via our newspaper subscriptions. Here you can read how different journalists have presented the story from a variety of angles. And, we have databases and other sources containing primary source materials as well as our own archival holdings in our Special Collections Library. Here, you can see and read how people have reported and interpreted events from the past that might have bearing on our present day state of affairs. 

So, let your curiosity take you on a journey. This site is designed to let you move from one question to the next and follow wherever your curiosity takes you. And often, the more you know, the more questions you have.  Hopefully this site will help you get started. Where you go afterwards, is up to you. Check out our Research Guide!