Foreign affairs end of Thatcher and Major

Question 1

What was 1989 known as?

Answer 1

‘The year of miracles’ as communism collapsed across easter Europe

Question 2

How did communism collapse?

Answer 2

Poland announced it was holding free elections + Gorbachev said USSR wouldn’t intervene
Defied Brezhnev Doctrine as soviet govt. had intervened in domestic affairs of other communist states
Promoted wave of free elections by communist states and communism collapsed

Question 3

What were Thatcher and Reagan’s impact in the ending of Cold War?

Answer 3

They forced Gorbachev (much more moderate) to realise that the USSR was no longer strong enough to compete and that they were willing to negotiate with Gorbachev so the Cold War could end peacefully

Question 4

How was Thatcher viewed by Germany?

Answer 4

They’d didn’t like her as she opposed reunification and feared rise of German superstate in Europe
Wasn’t invited to 10 year anniversary of collapse of Berlin Wall when other leading figures were

Question 5

What dominated post WWII international relations?

Answer 5

Initially Cold War but war broke out again after
Hussein (Iraq’s president) attacked Kuwait in ‘90 and in ‘91 B + US expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait but Hussein still remained leader

Question 6

What happened in the Balkans after communism collapsed in 1989?

Answer 6

Yugoslav president, Milosevic moved from communism to Serbian Nationalism
‘91, North Slovenia declared independence Yugo. + other countries followed so Yugo. broke up
Violent clashes between Serbia + Croatia (2 largest states)

Question 7

What did EU and UN try to do to combat initial tensions in the Balkans?

Answer 7

Tried to come to peaceful solution, Douglas Hurd (Foreign Sec.) thought B could make positive contribution
Efforts failed as unclear wether trying to maintain a multi-ethnic Yugo. of if allowing it to break up

Question 8

What happened with the Bosnian War?

Answer 8

War broke out in ‘92

‘Ethnic cleansing’ carried out, killing thousands of Muslims and setting up concentration camps

Question 9

What did Major do in response to Bosnian War?

Answer 9

Held EU + UN conference and UN peacekeeping force set up
Vance-Owen (former foreign sec. who helped set it tup) Plan aimed for lasting settlement
Major praised for efforts but has little impact + US still reluctant to get involved

Question 10

Sarajevo siege

Answer 10

War carried on for 3 more years, Sarajevo under constant siege
Massacre at Sabrenica killed 10,000 ppl, 7,000 men + boys
British and European intervention ineffective and B turned to Clinton to intervene

Question 11

US involvement

Answer 11

Military power of NATO essential to get Balkan leaders to negotiate
NATO > UN as UN dependent on member states to provide troops but NATO had unified central command under US leadership

Question 12

How did events in the Balkans end?

Answer 12

US air strikes on Serbian forces led to peace conference in Ohio + treaty signed in Paris Dec ‘95 guaranteeing Bosnian independence protected by UN force w/ economic support from international community

Question 13

World position after Balkans

Answer 13

EU’s centre of gravity shifted east and B’s place in EU was being questioned
NATO had to find new role post Cold War and US dominance still unchallenged
B’s ‘special relationship’ still strong

Question 14

Europhiles when Major became Prime Minister

Answer 14

Kenneth Clarke

Chris Prattern

Question 15

Eurosceptics when Major became Prime Minister and their response to Maastricht Treaty

Answer 15

Portillo
Redwood
Cash
Maastricht Treaty gave them chance to voice their concerns

Question 16

What was included in the Maastricht Treaty?

Answer 16

Expansion of EEC, it turning into EU + plans for a single currency
Treaty agreed Dec ‘91 + signed Feb ‘92

Question 17

How did Major opt out of some Maastricht Treaty terms?

Answer 17

Major had good relationship w/ European leaders, especially G leader Kohl, enabling him to opt out of single currency and social chapter

Question 18

What would the Social Chapter have meant for Britain?

Answer 18

Would have brought in max. working hours (48) and weeks
Better working rights for part-time
Major opposed this as The Social Chapter would represent the socialist nightmare of regulation from which Margaret Thatcher liberated Britain.
Also feared employers’ costs would increase, threatening their competitiveness and raising unemployment

Question 19

Rebels against Major

Answer 19

‘93 rebel MPs blocked Major’s attempt to ratify MT
Won by threatening vote of no confidence which if he’d lost would result in g.e and Tories behind in polls so couldn’t afford this
Still made Major look weak as he couldn’t silence them

Question 20

What happened once Treaty was ratified?

Answer 20

Ratified after 18 months, still divisions over Europe
Sceptics continued opposing Major’s European policies and threat of Party Whip didn’t deter rebels
Anti-Europe feeling in country, Anti-Federalist League formed ‘93 (later UKIP), Major’s govt. was weakened