On Monday, November 21, 2016, GSIS welcomed British Ambassador Charles Hay for a combined faculty seminar and public lecture regarding the UK’s recent decision to leave the European Union and its implications, not only on the domestic or European scale but also from a global perspective. The lecture began with Ambassador Hay’s discussions, regarding plausible reasons why the UK citizens have voted to leave the European Union. Both positive and negative perception towards the UK’s future were at stake as the voting public were both concerned about the rising inflow of foreigners but also excited about the ability of the UK to be a more free, global actor. Ambassador Hay also briefly discussed the legal procedures and politics behind the referendum. Despite the decision to leave the Union, Britain will continue to be a strong ally of its friends and continue to protect their mutual interests.
