UNIT 10: British Foreign Policy

1. Readings: Dunleavy CH 10 and 12 UNIT 10:British Foreign Policy

2. Guiding Questions • How do we classify British foreign policy? • Which factors explain their policy choices? • What is the “special relationship”? • Is there really an Anglo Saxon consensus? • How has British security policy changed post 9/11?

3. External Factors • Power: • Post-Suez we can classify the UK as a middle power • Typical “bridge building” approach to project a larger role in the system. • Institutions: • UN Security Council veto allows UK to project influence. • But globalization has constrained state autonomy. • EU membership makes European institutions key players in the British policy process. • Ideas: Concept of insularity. • Island nation.

4. Internal Factors • The PM/Government key actor in shaping foreign policy. • Blair’s decision to call for a vote in Parliament over Iraq was precedent setting. • Increased role of Parliament. • The Opposition typically sides with the Government on issues of national security. • The EU has split this bipartisan consensus. • Broad support for Atlanticism • Iraq has strained this to some extent.

5. Churchill’s Objectives • British foreign policy tied to conceptions of national identity. • Imperial power and insularity are key concepts. • Churchill still saw the UK as a global power in the aftermath of WW2. • But Pax Britannica was over; this global power positioning questionable. • Re-evaluated after the Suez Crisis. • Attempt to formulate a foreign policy that placed UK as the pivot between colonial commitments, the US and Europe. • Bridging this EU/US relationship has been the focus of successive governments.

6. Responding to Diminished Strength • Despite the crumbling of the British Empire, postwar diplomacy gave the British a seat at the international table. • Permanent Security Council status postponed the inevitable re-assessment. • Re-assessing British power not undertaken until after Suez. • Played important role prior to détente, but weakened military capabilities limited the sustainability of this role. • Once superpowers began to engage, British role was limited. • Fighting to regain the Falklands is an outlier • British empire continues to cede territory until 1997.

7. Managing Relations with Europe • The concept of insularity frames British foreign policy. • While Churchill made initial overtures towards European integration, they did not sign on initially. • Made it clear that the UK would be in the US’s corner. • Avoiding the ECSC proved to be a mistake. • Eventual application to the EEC was made on the basis of its economic and not political benefits. • Still see the EU as an economic union rather than a political union.

8. UK/US Relations: The “Special Relationship” • First classified as “special” by Churchill in 1946. • Response post Suez Crisis: repair relations with the US. • Wanted to act like the “older brother” who could advise the US. • Ended up in the position of “junior partner” • With the exception of the Heath government, maintaining this relationship has been the top priority of British foreign policy. • Although the current coalition has suggested that the relationship should be re-calibrated.

9. Anglo Saxon Consensus? • Common language, heritage, etc often cited as a basis for this relation. • But is there really an “Anglo Saxon consensus”? • Politically, the US and the UK are not all that similar • If we look at the positions of party supporters, we see very little evidence of overlap. • The UK is to the left of the US on several key issues. • On some issues, the Democrats are to the right of Labour. • The center-right (Conservatives) are far to the left of their US counterparts.

11. Security Policy Post 9/11 • 9/11 has not changed the British government’s central foreign policy goal: maintaining close ties to the US. • Riddell: • Tony Blair understood how 9/11 would affect US foreign and domestic politics • Other European leaders did not. • British foreign policy in Iraq and Afghanistan has arguably, made it a more likely target for terror. • 7/7/05 attacks.

12. Security Policy Post 9/11: Terrorism • In the aftermath of 9/11 and 7/7, the Blair government argued that the right to life was being threatened by terror. • The government argued that some civil liberties might need to be curtailed. • Not well received amongst the Liberal Democrats and the Tories as time passed. • Anti-terrorism legislation has raised issues regarding the right balance between protecting against terror and protecting civil liberties.

13. Terrorism Policy • Policy on terror centers on four pieces of legislation: • 1) Terrorism Act of 2000 • 2) Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 • 3) Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 • 4) Terrorism Bill of 2005. • Laws have proven controversial. • Attempts to raise the length of time suspects can be held without charge have failed to pass in the Lords and have caused revolts in the Commons. • Saward: Blair government shifted focus away from individual rights towards conceptions of the community, rights of victims, etc.

14. Terrorism vs. Civil Liberties • POINT • 1) Fundamental rights are being defended. • 2) State objectives trump international and EU commitments. • 3) State should try to strike the right balance between civil liberties and security. • 4) Expanded executive authority required to address terror; this is weakening the judiciary, • COUNTERPOINT • 1) Threats are real but should not undercut the rule of law. • 2) Reneging on international commitments can undercut cooperation on terror. • 3) Government already has enough tools at its disposal. • 4) Undermining the judiciary is placing the judiciary and executive on a collision course.

15. Conclusions • 9/11 didnot fundamentally changed the core of British foreign policy: maintain close ties to the US. • Although re-evaluating the relationship is now part of the political discourse. • UK/US responses to terror and agreement on Iraq cemented Blair’s position in the Bush Administration. • Won Blair plaudits in the US; cost him domestic support. • This access came at a cost: greater distance between the UK/EU. • Iraq exacerbated differences between the UK and the EU.

16. Next Unit • Theme: • Recent Trends in British Foreign Policy • Readings: Riddell