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This research investigates how nationalism and fear of immigration shaped the political and cultural construction of the Brexit referendum. Rather than framing Brexit as a purely economic or policy-driven decision, the study situates it within deeper historical narratives of British identity. It argues that economic dissatisfaction and debates over sovereignty were interpreted and amplified through nationalist discourse, transforming complex political issues into emotionally charged questions of belonging, exclusion, and cultural preservation.

Drawing on theories of ethnic and civic nationalism alongside Social Identity Theory, the paper examines how nationalist rhetoric reframed immigration as symbolic of broader anxieties over globalization and the erosion of sovereignty. Through case studies of the “Breaking Point” poster and the “Take Back Control” campaign, the analysis demonstrates how appeals to ethnic exclusion and civic autonomy intersected, mobilizing voters by linking fears of immigration to visions of a restored, sovereign Britain.

Ultimately, the study positions Brexit as an identity-defining event rather than a rational policy choice. By showing how nationalist narratives gave coherence to fragmented social grievances, it illuminates the emotional and symbolic forces driving contemporary populist movements. The paper’s insights contribute to understanding the resurgence of nationalism in multicultural democracies and its enduring influence on political behavior and public discourse.