UK in a Changing Europe 2022-2025

Led by Professor Anand Menon, the UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE) initiative aims to promote rigorous, high-quality and independent social science research and to provide an authoritative, non-partisan and impartial reference point for those looking for information, insight and analysis about the post-Brexit and post-COVID UK, including its external relations and the impacts on the UK of changes in the wider international system. UKICE achieves its aims primarily through: an active online presence (including social media, podcasts, video, and the publication of briefings, commentaries and blogs); a busy programme of events (conferences, briefings, roundtables, panel discussions); working closely with other ESRC Brexit-related investments, including the Senior Fellows, and the Governance after Brexit programme, and via the development of close and collaborative relations with a range of non-academic stakeholder groups. Now applying for its third phase of funding, UKICE has developed a reputation as the 'go to' place for timely and accessible research-based insights relevant to a host such groups, including politicians, civil servants, businesses, third sector organisations, the media and the public. It has gained a reputation as a reliable source of leading social scientists who can act authoritatively as trusted commentators, explaining often complex ideas in an intelligible and engaging fashion. In so doing, UKICE has enhanced the reputation of social science by demonstrating how a fact-based approach can inform public and political debate, and has had a major role in developing a significant presence for the ESRC in terms of relationships with the media and policy makers. While the objective in the first two phases of funding had been to promote research into UK-EU relationship, the post-Brexit context brings a need to widen this focus. The aim now is to retain the essential ingredients that have made UKICE so successful in its endeavours, but to broaden the substantive lens, and thereby its potential contribution to the wider understanding of not only developments within the UK but also the country's changing international position. UKICE has had to adapt to several different phases as the Brexit process altered in nature. During the period leading up to and during the referendum campaign, much of UKICE's activity was public-facing, providing clear and accessible information for voters. Following the referendum, significant time was devoted to regular private briefings for MPs and civil servants as they wrestled with the complexities of leaving the EU. With EU membership and the subsequent transition period having ended, there is a need for further adaptation in terms of both methods and substance, with an expanded research agenda. Specifically, while the Brexit process (referendum, withdrawal, transition) was the inevitable focus of activity in recent years, UKICE's potential contribution going forwards lies in addressing the broader consequences of both Brexit and the global COVID-19 pandemic on the UK itself and its place in, and engagement with, the world beyond its borders. This application is to recommission the UKICE Director's Hub at King's College London for a further three years from May 2022. The intentions are: to provide enhanced capacity both for outputs and for enhanced (academic and non-academic) stakeholder engagement by expanding the team; to expand our portfolio of published outputs, including research on areas beyond the Brexit process, creating in the process a wider network of social scientists from a broader range of institutions and disciplines, including from beyond the UK; to maintain our high-profile events programme; and to do more to encourage participation from early career researchers and from academic and non-academic collaborators overseas.