Brexit negotiation for children: can Theresa May develop object permanence and theory of mind?

By George ILIEV
Brexit Metaphor No 104. 

When human babies are shown a toy and then the toy is hidden from view, the toy ceases to exist in the baby's perception of the world. Peekaboo!

Children older than two develop the understanding that the toy would continue to exist even after it is hidden or after the child stops observing it. This understanding of the permanent nature of objects is called "object permanence".

British Prime Minister Theresa May is currently treating the issue of the Irish border just like a baby views a hidden toy: she is asking for the topic to be hidden from view (kicked in the long grass under the euphemism "alternative arrangements") so that it may be forgotten.

In this process, the PM is also showing lack of awareness of a more sophisticated concept called "theory of mind": the ability to understand that others have different perspectives from your own. The EU has repeatedly said that the Irish backstop is non-negotiable, but Theresa May seems to be struggling to understand that what she wants may not be what the other EU member states want.

Reassuringly, human children and even great apes normally develop theory of mind. So there is hope that in the two months remaining until March 29, Theresa May will finally be able to demonstrate that she is a grown-up human being with object permanence and theory of mind.

Children playing Peekaboo (Source: Wikipedia)

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Notes:
1. Timeline: This article is part of a series of original #BrexitMetaphors published daily. A total of 104 have been posted so far and another 57 Brexit Metaphors will be published every day until the planned Brexit date of March 29, 2019.
2. Disclosure: The author has a master's degree in European Integration. He also thinks he knows a bit about business, economics, entrepreneurship, China, history, geography, nature, science and Rubik Cubes.
3. Invitation: If you'd like to contribute to the debate, please leave a comment below or re-tweet the blogpost link.
4. Sign-up: I would be thrilled if you signed up to receive my blog daily by entering your email address in the blank in the top right-hand corner of this page.
5. Thank you for being here!

EU Facade shatters British Blind Spot in clash of Johari Windows

By George ILIEV
Brexit Metaphor No 64

The UK and the EU are two Johari Windows, each with its own typical set of 4 quadrants: from "known knowns" to "unknown unknowns". 

1) British Johari Window:
In its interaction with the EU, the UK is in the Blind Spot quadrant: Britain thinks it has power in the negotiation while in reality it has limited clout. Because of the British Empire, the victory in the 2nd World War (WW2), the Commonwealth and the English language, Britain thinks it is still a great power, while  in the new world order it is merely a medium-sized country.

2) EU Johari Window:
In its interaction with the UK, the EU is in the Facade quadrant: It presents a strong position externally, but actually it knows that it is internally fragile. The EU is a global trading giant and sets global benchmarks for regulations and environmental standards but its member states (including the UK) have been passing on to Brussels the blame for any negative domestic policy for decades, commonly known as Brussels-bashing. As a result, the sustainability and survival of the EU is contingent on projecting external power to convince its constituent members that it is worth sticking with.

When elephants fight, the grass suffers. When windows collide, the glass shatters. The EU has held the high ground in the negotiations with the UK but if Britain's withdrawal spirals out of control into Hard Brexit, there will be many losers.

Diagram of Johari Window (Source: Wikipedia)

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Notes:
1. Timeline: This article is part of a series of original #BrexitMetaphors published daily. A total of 64 have been posted so far and another 97 Brexit Metaphors will be published every day until the planned Brexit date of March 29, 2019.
2. Disclosure: The author has a master's degree in European Integration. He also thinks he knows a bit about business, economics, entrepreneurship, China, history, geography, science and Rubik Cubes.
3. Invitation: If you'd like to contribute to the debate, please leave a comment below or re-tweet the blogpost link.
4. Sign-up: I would be thrilled if you signed up to receive my blog daily by entering your email address in the blank in the top right-hand corner of this page.
5. Thank you for being here!