Glass Cliff and Brexit: Theresa May’s legacy as Prime Minister

Abstract

Following the 2016 British referendum, Theresa May was officially appointed as Prime Minister. She was classed as a weak PM, and her legacy was considered as a huge failure on Brexit negotiations. Yet, few analyses focus on how she became a PM in such a challenging moment for UK-EU relations. This article explores the paths that lead May to this position, based on the glass cliff literature. Then, May’s brinkmanship strategy on Brexit is analysed in light of Complex Adaptive Systems’ approach to crises. We apply the Containers, Differences and Exchanges (CDE) model to understand May’s response to the Brexit vote. Finally, the concept of ‘male glass cushion’ will be introduced to explain May’s replacement by Boris Johnson. This work joins efforts to employ perspectives from other subject areas, such as public administration and psychology, to understand women in leadership roles and to contribute to the study of gender in politics.