[dw1]

I believe it is good to put this in geopolitical historical context. This can been seen as yet another change in the European economic alliance system that has been seen many changes in the last 1000 years. Certainly nothing new.

The exit allows the Brits to negotiate their own trade deals more independent independent of the EU, for better or worse. The discussions on tariffs for goods manufactured in the UK will be interesting since there are European companies with large manufacturing plants for components and sub-systems as well as for complete products in the UK.

What will be very interesting is whether the UK turns more to the US for economic alliances, and whether Scotland now votes for independence so they can stay in the EU.

There are also early indications that the Netherlands ("Nexit") and perhaps Denmark may be voting on it in the not-too-distant future.

Btw, a good book on English history that might help put this is context is a relatively new one (2015) by Cambridge professor Robert Tombs "The English and Their History".