Britain, Europe and America

Paper Summary:

In an era of rising globalisation and in a divided world under a war against terrorism, to which side of the Atlantic Britain's economic and political future is likely to tend? This paper argues that Britain is likely to remain tied up with America and will rely essentially on the latter to determine its international position, especially if the U.K. does not manage to rehabilitate its credibility in continental Europe as a reliable partner and supporter of close co-operation.

Outline:
Britain's Constant Efforts to Privilege Its "Special Relationship" With the U.S.
The U.K.'s Historical Distinctiveness From the Continent
Political Pragmatism as a Constant in British Politics
The Emphasis on the 'Special Relationship' as the Pillar of U.K.-U.S. Military and Security Cooperation
Britain Facing European Issues of the Euro and the European Treaty: Britain At Crossroads With Europe
Britain's Political Class's Inability to Overcome Schisms on the Question of Europe
Britain Out of "Euro-Land"
The European Treaty and Britain's Vital Choice
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Nevertheless, within the process of decolonisation, the UK was faced with the dismantling of its colonial empire. The association of former dominions within the Commonwealth did not manage to make Britain's trade with former colonies flourish. Moreover, in the context of the Cold War, Britain had to realise its incapacities to intervene militarily in the world without the support and assent of the U.S.: this was the case when the Anglo-French expedition in Suez failed in 1956, making the 'special relationship' with the U.S. more unbalanced. Finally, facing the importance of its relative economic decline, the UK had to take into account the fact that most of its international trade was alimented by and with Europe. Indeed, Jones and Kavanagh recall that already in 1875, the UK's trade with Europe constituted 51% of the national GDP (JONES & KAVANAGH, 1998: 226). "

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