To preface: This is not in defence of the EU. There will be no imperialist apologia in this post/question.
The push for EU exits is overwhelmingly right-wing in the majority of EU countries. We knew beforehand what the result of a move like Brexit would be like for the UK, especially for the material conditions of the working class, at the very least in the short-term, which was quickly confirmed by the situation we can currently see.
While no one can claim that the EU's supposed 'rule of law' and institutions have managed to curb the resurgence of fascism, as evidenced by the popularity of fascist rhetoric and political parties in most EU countries, it still worth noting that they strongly oppose the EU nonetheless.
However minimal, right-wing and fascist parties are limited by the EU in their desired expression of xenophobic, queerphobic, abelist, anti-immigrant, and other generally hateful policies where marginalised people are used as scapegoats. Limitations they would very much like to be rid of.
The push for Brexit-style EU exits is an overwhelmingly right-wing project, where leftist anti-imperialist anti-EU voices are reduced to the fringes or are completely unheard of. The aftermath of the success of such a project, while it would weaken the EU, is shouldered by the most vulnerable, most marginalised groups of the working class in such countries. Immigrants, people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, unhoused people, etc. who now have a fully unchained rabid dog going after them.
I thus pose the following questions:
In the pursuit of weakening the EU by voting 'leave' in Brexit or a Brexit-style referendum in Europe, knowing that it's overwhelmingly supported by right-wing and outwardly fascist movements who will be in power:
- Are we offering up the working class of imperialist countries, especially those who are most vulnerable and marginalised, as sacrificial lambs?
- Is it an unavoidable fate in the fight against imperialism?
- Are the working class of imperialist nations perceived as a sort-of global bourgeoisie in the global north/south relation?
- Is it always strategically correct for the left to back such movements even when they're under the overwhelming control of right-wing and fascist groups who will inevitably rise to power in the aftermath?
I am probably very wrong in multiple areas of my conception and analysis here so please do not hold back on calling them out.
I think Serbia is the most likely to join BRICS, the US is already threatening sanctions on them. Also China-Serbian relations have been very succesful rebuilding Serbia dismantled (by US neolibs) industry.
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/10/serbias-vucic-to-speak-with-putin-following-us-sanctions-against-russian-owned-oil-firm
What makes you think slovakia and hungary are up to join BRICS? I rarely see any mentions of them in international news which makes me assume theyre loyal to the EU.
Oh yeah Serbia is definitely joining BRICS, but they didn't make the mistake of joining the EU either. Both Slovakia and Hungary have been pursuing policy that's contrary to the EU, and the EU is now withholding billions from Hungary to punish them. The whole pipeline through Ukraine being shut down is very obviously being done to put pressure on Hungary and Slovakia as well since they were the main beneficiaries. Ultimately, the whole selling point of the EU is that it helps countries economically, but if that's no longer the case then the obvious next step is to look for new partners. BRICS also happens to be in a far better shape economically than the EU, and has far more to offer. Given that the war is likely to end this year, logistics to the east are going to be restored as well.