Britain and Integration Flashcards
what was Britain’s self perception during the cold war?
saw itself as a ‘Great Power’ with a global role despite its reduced military and economic power after ww2
what were Chruchill’s 3 circles in British Cold war strategy
- Empire/ Commonwealth
- Anglo-American ‘Special relationship’
- Europe
What was one of the main objectives of British cold war foreign policy
one main objective was anti-communism, positioning the UK as the most important ally of the US in battling communism
another objective in UK FP
preserving Britain’s international position and restoring its status as a great power
significant problem faced by Britain after WW2
relative decline became more obvious after WW2 due to the emergence of 2 superpowers - making Britain less powerful
what economic issue did Britain face post WW2
Britan had the biggest external debt in history and its economy didn’t recover as quickly as West Germany
How was Britain’s relationship with Europe perceived initially?
Britain initially saw its relationship with Europe as a drain on its resources.
When did Britain join the European Community (EC)?
1973
Significant obstacle to Britain’s EC membership
Britain’s membership was vetoed twice by de Gaulle, who feared Britain would become a ‘Trojan horse’ for the US.
one of the series of problems Britain faced regarding its EC membership?
re-negotiation of terms, which increased ambiguity about the UK’s membership status
What was the British Budgetary Question (BBQ) related to EC membership?
The BBQ involved Thatcher denying integration to secure a rebate on Britain’s contribution to the EC.
Who stated that ‘Britain has lost an Empire and has not yet found a role’?
Dean Acheson stated this in December 1962.
What did the Falklands conflict demonstrate about Britain according to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher?
It demonstrated that ‘we have ceased to be a nation in retreat’
What did Conservative Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd claim about Britain’s decline?
He claimed that Britain’s decline ended in the 1980s and that adjustments were complete.
how did Britain transform its Empire post cold war?
Britain’s Empire transformed into the Commonwealth, and it became a key member of the EU while correcting economic weaknesses.
How did Britain position itself after the Cold War?
Became a medium power that was able to punch above its weight
What did Tony Blair suggest about Britain’s new role in international politics?
Blair suggested that Britain should use its historical strengths to build a future as a pivotal power rather than a superpower
How did the weight of British influence change post-Cold War?
The weight of British influence changed significantly, becoming different from West Germany and developing a position as a ‘good European’
How did British post-Cold War foreign policy differ from previous policies?
It was not a major change but rather a different perspective on existing relationships.
What remains the biggest and most influential relationship for the UK post-Cold War?
The Anglo-American relationship remains the biggest and most influential for the UK.
Which institutions does Britain have institutionalised power in post-Cold War?
UNSC, EU, NATO, OSCE and IMF
What is one of the consistent aims within the EU for Britain?
To expand the zone of peace and stability
What does Britain want the EU to be characterised as?
UK wants EU to be an outward-looking character that engages the world as a ‘power enhancing’ mechanism
what is the concept of a ‘Europe of nation-states’ in relation to British policy?
refers to the idea that the pool of sovereignty within the EU should be limited
How does Britain’s membership in various institutions benefit it?
Membership in multiple institutions gives Britain a vast amount of structural power
significance of Britain being at the ‘heart of Europe’
Being at the ‘heart of Europe’ means that the more influence Britain has, the more power it has to drive legislation
How did Britain view the enlargement of the EU?
Britain strongly supported enlargement, seeing it as an economic opportunity and a chance to slow down deepening integration.
What was a hallmark of both Major and Blair’s governments regarding economic policy?
Promoting wealth and employment through deregulation and flexible labor markets was a hallmark of both governments
What did Britain encourage the EU to do regarding resource management?
Britain encouraged the EU to crack down on poor implementation and wasteful use of resources
What was Britain’s stance on the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)?
Britain opted out of the EMU, believing that a single currency was not necessary for economic success.
What was one of Britain’s opt outs regarding EU policies?
protection of British borders concerning economic and home affairs
How did Blair’s EU policy differ fro Major’s?
Blair’s EU policy was not constrained by internal party political considerations, unlike Major’s, which faced Eurosceptics in his Cabinet
What did Blair do regarding the Social Charter in the Treaty on European Union (TEU)?
Blair reversed Major’s opt-out of the Social Charter, implementing reforms in this area
What change did Blair accept regarding Qualified Majority Voting (QMV)
accepted greater use of QMV and limited ‘communitarisation’ in areas like asylum policy
