1987-1997 Foreigh Affairs

Question 1

What was major aim in foreign affairs?

Answer 1

For uk to punch above its weight, and show that they have significant influence in affairs

Role for UK being part of wider/ larger alliance to help increase influence

Question 2

What were the success of British intervention in Balkans war?

Answer 2

• august (1992) John major hosted a joint EU and UN conference in London to put a UN peacekeeping force in place

-October (1992) Vance-Owen plan set framework for lasting settlement

-September (1995): operation delta force , where Britain use NATO connections with US to send air strikes on Serbia forces. that led to Dayton peace conference

December (1995) peace treaty signed in Paris that gave Bosnia independence, UN protection and heavy economic support

Question 3

What were the successes British involvement in the gulf war?

Answer 3

-thatcher influenced bush to “not get wobbly” regarding Iraq. Shows the strength of the Atlantic alliance + gave the resolve to follow up + create a coalition + stop Iraqi aggression

-Major continuous pressure + support for US/coalition=positive outcome =Iraqi forces are pushed out of Kuwait .
(displays British military strength)

Question 4

What were the successful policies towards Europe (1987-1997)

Answer 4

• Britain joined the ERM

• Maastricht treaty was ratified by parliament(1993) which established new structures to cope with EEC expansion. Such as setting up for a single European currency by (1999). To create a European Union

• major had good links with German chancellor, helmet kohl which improved British relations with Europe and make compromises for eurosceptic.

• major able to secure Britain
opt out from the single currency and from the social chapter:(part of Maastricht treaty, aimed to regulate working conditions like working hours, & part time workers employment rights) as these issues were a concern for business and British identity

Question 5

Who were the eurosceptics and europhiles?

Answer 5

Europhiles: Ken Clarke, Chris patten

Eurosceptics: Micheal portillo, John redwood, Ian Duncan, bill cash

Question 6

What failures were there towards majors/ thatcher’s policies towards Europe (1987-1997)

Answer 6

• (1988) thatchers Bruges speech: talked about opposing EEC federalism and emphasising the Union was a trade association between states= doubts in Britain commitment to Europe (attitude further shown in her advocation for expansion of EEC to new Eastern European states to weaken the European Commission in Brussels power)

•Maastricht treaty took 18 months to ratify shows the hard right wing stance of the party was assertive , creating party divisions= major look like weak leader in Europe

• (1992)Britain left the ERM

• Maastricht rebels forced major to threaten a vote of no confidence. That would’ve caused parliament o dissolve and for rebels to lose their jobs. So major could pass the policy. Shows not full aggremant with majors European policies = hinders world role ability

-majors ‘back me or sack me, resignation didn’t strengthen his position, made him appear weak

-eurosceptic groups formed: Anti-federalist league(1993) & referendum party (1994)

Question 7

What failures were there towards British policies towards The Gulf war?

Answer 7

Saddam hussein was left in power. Leading to repression of Iraqis, economic sanction + this caused wider resentment of the west

Question 8

How successful was British contributions towards ending the Cold War (1987-1991)?

Answer 8

-Micheal Gorbachev lost power in a coup and resigned at the end of the year (1991)

-thatcher opposed formation of German superstate and opposed reunification (not invited to 10th anniversary of the fall of the wall in (1999))

-thatcher resigned in (1990)

Question 9

What were the failures of British intervention in the Balkans?

Answer 9

(1991) Douglas Hurd diplomatic efforts at mediation between Serbia and Croatia failed

(1992) April: war begins, but major doesn’t react until August. By then the Muslim population of eastern Bosnia was driven out by paramilitaries backed by by slobodan milosevics Serbian government

(1992) Vance Owen plan didn’t have much support by any force apart from USA or EU. So war continued for more than 3 yeasrs (100,000 killed)= Britain look ineffective

(1995) srebrenica massacre: 8000 Muslims killed in 5 days. 23,000 displaced. Shows failure of UN peacekeeping mission and limited of EU / major diplomacy. Made it seem as Britain was innefctive without US/EU support