Foreign Affairs (1997-2007) Flashcards
What were the Labour governments foreign policy aims?
-improve/strengthen commonwealth relations
-to have a leading role in Europe
-secure reform for more effective UN
-foster a people’s diplomacy to increase respect, understanding and goodwill for Britain
-ethical dimensions to foreign policy (constantly seek to have proactive role)
-Liberal interventionism [Blair doctrine] (support human rights )
How far did Britain play a leading role in Europe?
Did:
-blair lead way in initiatives (climate change, world trade, African aid)
-labours aim (as party) to play central & positive role in Europe
-Blair had good relations with EU leaders (Angela Merkel [Germany] , Nicolas Sarkozy [France] )
-Blair enthusiastic on Britain joining euro
-Blair attempt to make British a bridge between US and Europe (Iraq 2003…and Isreal-Palestine conflict)
-opt back into social chapter
-leading role at treat of Nice: in negotiations for EU enlargement and voting weights in the council of the EU
Did Not:
-Brown set up conditions for joining the euro which were seemingly impossible to fulfil
-‘New Europe’ expansion diluted British power in EU
-progress on climate change and Africa aid was slow and little was achieved
-failed to persuade most EU countries to support Iraq invasion
-expansion caused attempts to change the EU structure through the Lisbon treaty (2007) intensified eurosceptic concerns and was criticized [no certainty all 27 states ratify treaty]
How successful was the Blair doctrine towards liberating Kosovo (1999)?
Intended to stop Serbian aggression
Action: Blair persuade Clinton to back a US lead NATO bombing campaign against Serbia until Milosevic pulled out
Impacts:
• Short term: Serbia retreat from Kosovo .
• Long term: show importance of US involvement . Support later policies to sustain and further develop doctrine.
How successful was the Blair doctrine towards liberating Sierra Leone(2000 )?
Aim: prevent rebel forces taking over capital of free town
Action: sent armed forces to initially help evacuate foreigners , but then to support UN peacekeepers
Impact:
• short term: helped protect and secure capital, brought end to civil war by (2001)
• long term: show potential of liberal interventionism
How successful was the Blair doctrine towards liberating Afghanistan (2001)?
Aim to remove taliban government to prevent the country from being a base for Al Qaeda; set up liberal democracy
action: UN sanctioned invasion lead by the US and UK, supported by both UN and NATO
Impact:
-Short term-Taliban government removed, showed strength to international cooperation, Al Qaeda weakened (B: not completely defeated, leaders escaped )
-long term- some progress towards liberal democracy but not fully stable (B: economic and political development slow, showed limitations of liberal interventionism and made future interventionism unlikely =(2006) Taliban regrouping =(2021) Taliban retaking government
How successful was the Blair doctrine towards liberating (2003)?
Aim: prevent development of WMD. Prevent the country being a future base for Al-Qaeda. Described by Blair as “the most fundamental issue of our time” (to ensure US part of international world order, trying to convince Europe to proof his claim, but can also be seen to follow along with bush , as he was claim to know bush to invade, and wanted Europe to support)
Action: invasion of the ‘Coalition of the willing’. Blair attempt to get second revolution passed to authorise the war but several country’s , France and Germany refused. Used ‘dodgy dossier’ to push forward his claim saddam hussain WPD were “active, detailed and growing”
Impact:
-Short term-
Hussain regime dismantled, he was captured and killed. (B: no WMD found (Dr Kelly ‘sexed up dossier’ incident) , show weakness of international cooperation , led to accusations of Britain being controlled by the US)
-Long term-added to instability in the region (rival Muslim and regional divisions intensify), show limitations of liberal interventionism, made future intervention less likely, damaged Britains international relations, long term planning was not enforced, British troops in Iraq without prospect of leaving
What was the impact of the Iraq war on Britain?
Social/cultural:
-(2003, February) ‘stop the war’ march through London attracted more than million people
-7/7 London bombings (2005)
Governmental/ political:
-four minister resigned including former foreign secretary robin cook
-government criticism heightened for not proving to find WMD and was accused of exaggerating the threat (‘sexed up’ the dossier)
-Dr Kelly suicide made gov look suspicious of exaggeration of WMD (but Hutton report clearer gov involvement in Kelly’s death)
Foreign relations:
-accused British foreign policy’s dominated by US interest
-allegations of mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by British and US soldiers
-opens up divisions with European allies
-Blair not able to be seen as independent from Palestine/ Isreal situation
-liberal interventionism discredited
however…
-possibility of stable democratic government
-Britains capacity and willingness to take military action was demonstrated
-Britain influence in world affairs was obvious
-showed importance of special relationship
-caused demise of saddam Hussain
What was the ‘specialty relationship like in Blair’s tenure ?
-Blair and bill clinton and similarities , both had been influenced by third way. Used demcorat connections from (1992) to help them achieve electoral success as left centrists
-Blair believed as vital to maintain US in European affairs, use NATO to bring US into bringing world order
-Blair beleive Britain could act as a bridge between US and Europe
-Blair develop close relations with bush in regards to threat of terrorism ,(B: Blair also accused of being US, and Bush’s ’poodle’ , that Britains foreign policy was intertwined with US priorities)
What was Britains position in international affairs in the world line by 2007?
Relationship with US:
-Blair and bush continued ‘special relationship’
-Iraq and Afghanistan had brought doubt on British foreign policy’s with US, discredited his war on terrorism, but also made them formidable military power in relationship
Europe:
-Blair continues enthusiasm, consider himself a good European and helped gain Brian closer ties with Europe (part of EU)?
-joined the social chapter
-remained opt outs - like the euros (1999) and not seemingly likely to join it
-retained its independence currency , and avoid crisis afflicting eurozone
Relations with rest of world:
-hong king withdrawal, (1997) agreed under thatcher (1984) = stronger commercial and financial links with China
-queen elizebath remained head of commonwealth
-remained permanent member of UN security council, played key role in international peacekeeping affairs
-NATO: Britain militates prowess and reputation and so r leading member
-led more initiatives on fair trade and climate change . Devote 2% GDP to foreign aid. Was member of G8 and ranked highly for influencing international economic decisions . (City of London remains world major financial and commercial exchange centres (had resources to use nuclear power for domestic and militsry purposes). Britains position from its imperial past still made them reliable (somewhat) to play peacekeeping role.
