I think Brexit, opposition to free trade and to globalization comes from the following. Globalization means that individual national capitalist elites merge into a single international capital elite. International elites can justify the policies that make them richer at the expense of working classes in developed countries because they do make a lot more of the
global poor (in developing countries) much better off. That is these policies create the greatest good for the greatest number.
National elites don't think this way. They focus only on those non-elites inside their own country. So China's elites, express support for globalization (to gains access to Western markets) but are still primarily concerned about their own countries non-elites because it is through them that they could lose power.
American elites since Reagan have achieved a split between non-elite Americans allowing them to play off one group against another, particularly on racial lines. As a result America has two parties representing the capitalist elite and American have cheerfully sacrificed their working classes to globalization because they feel safe from any electoral consequences. As evidence, I give you that many Americans see perceive Donald Trump, who is himself a capitalist elite, as an opponent of globalization.
global poor (in developing countries) much better off. That is these policies create the greatest good for the greatest number.
National elites don't think this way. They focus only on those non-elites inside their own country. So China's elites, express support for globalization (to gains access to Western markets) but are still primarily concerned about their own countries non-elites because it is through them that they could lose power.
American elites since Reagan have achieved a split between non-elite Americans allowing them to play off one group against another, particularly on racial lines. As a result America has two parties representing the capitalist elite and American have cheerfully sacrificed their working classes to globalization because they feel safe from any electoral consequences. As evidence, I give you that many Americans see perceive Donald Trump, who is himself a capitalist elite, as an opponent of globalization.