Richard Tuck


Richard Francis Tuck is a British academic, political theorist and historian of political thought. He taught at the University of Cambridge from 1973 to 1995. He then joined the faculty of Harvard University, where he teaches as the Frank G. Thomson Professor of Government.

Views on Brexit and the European Union

In his opinion-article, "The Left Case for Brexit" published by the Dissent, Tuck maintains that "the left’s natural position should still be one of opposition to the EU," and that Brexit would open up political possibilities for the Left. In a 17 July, 2017 talk at the Policy Exchange entitled "Brexit: A Prize in Reach for the Left," Tuck advocates for a "genuine Brexit followed by a Labour government" that would both tactically "stall the movement towards independence in Scotland" and politically allow Britain to enact leftist policies, free from the "far-reaching restrictions which the EU imposes on traditional socialism." Tuck also co-authored a November 2017 "Brexit Proposal" with Dr. Christopher Bickerton of Cambridge University. Tuck favours historical international organisations such as the International Labour Organization and domestic institutions such as the National Health Service, which promote socialist goals without compromising democratic processes. In contrast, he cautions against European Union 's imposition of neo-liberal structures that meet right-wing goals. Tuck criticises the technocratic elite, and regards Brexit referendum as the expression of democratic sovereignty.

Books