Britain as an Awkward Partner in the European Community
Britain emerged from the war in a relatively favourable position,
compared to its European neighbours. In 1946 industrial production was
as high as at any time pre-war, and increasing quite fast. By the end
of the year exports had regained their pre-war level along with this
there was little unemployment and retail prices remained fairly
stable. All this contrasted strongly with the situation in France,
Germany and Italy. Indeed in the late 1940's and into the early 1950's
Britain's economy performed better then it's European counterparts.
Churchill suggested that France and West Germany should lead the
creation of a new Europe for "justice, mercy and freedom". He implied
the Britain was above such an organisation because he didn't think the
UK needed to be involved economically. After all, the height of the
British Empire was only in 1933 when one quarter of the world's
landmass and one quarter of its population was under British control.
Many, as well as Churchill assumed Britain's traditional world status
was not destined to whither, and Churchill called for the United
States, the USSR and Britain to be "friends and sponsors" of a new
Europe, underlying the idea that Britain felt superior to Europe.
Initially post war Britain had a Labour government. They saw any
European community as a capitalist enterprise that was likely to
inhibit any moves towards a more planned economy, and to insist on the
rigours of the free market. It was under this government of Clement
Attlee that Britain refused to allow the Council of Europe develop as
the federalists would have hoped, into a fe...
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better for further integration in Europe. Under major Britain further
provided evidence for being an awkward partner. John Major in 1993
when signing the Maastricht Treaty voiced concerns and on signing it
omitted many parts, these included the Social Chapter because of the
fear of increasing the costs of employing labour in Britain, and the
single currency. Major did not believe it was the right time to sign
those parts. Even today under the government the single currency part
has been left unsigned and does not look likely to be signed any time
soon.
All examples and reasons above back up the view that Britain is an
awkward partner within the EU do to economical, political and
geographical reasoning. This awkward relationship however is further
diminishing with ever piece of further integration by Britain.
”Examine the extent to which the benefits of UK membership in the European Union outweigh the costs”
Additionally, it presented a Non-Intervention plan to Britain, Italy and Despite Germany’s withdrawal from the League of Nations in 1933, their rearmament program which directly violated the Treaty of Versailles and Italy’s occupation of Ethiopia in 1935, Britain continued to appease the leaders in order to avoid conflict. Firstly, Britain was suffering from an economic crisis following the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression making it extremely vulnerable in the event of a war. Additionally, Britain couldn’t reach out to anyone for support; the USA practiced isolationism and communist Russia wouldn’t make a good ally. Furthermore, the British people were against another conflict and were still recuperating from World War I. The aforementioned reasons explain the rationale behind British appeasement policy in the
After the Thatcher years there was no turning back, some say that we are all Thatcherites now. "Across the world governments are almost regardless of party introducing economic reforms resembling the Thatcherite programme. This suggests that Thatcherism in Britain was a necessary adjustment to changing patterns in the world economy. " Thatcher attempted to introduce historically different policies and to replace the cooperative policy style of British government.
... middle of paper ... ... The result of World War II had tragic results for Japan, Germany, and also Italy. The United States and the Allies came out victorious once again, but the cost of war greatly affected all the countries.
When we look at unemployment in the UK we can see that it is around
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy. It’s inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery(Sir Winston Churchill).” During World War I and II, much of Europe was taken over and placed into the slavery of socialism and of Adolf Hitler. While much of Europe was sitting on their hands over the crisis of Hitler, Churchill stood strong and knocked the Nazi general back into his place. Most European governments pre-World War II held total authority over its people and exerted control over aspects of public and private life (Johnson 46, 58, 108-112) (Berdichevsky) (Zegart). Churchill fought against these odds during his career in politics as Prime Minister to England. In Churchill’s speech against the Treaty of Munich in October 1938, he explained and predicted the faults and failures of the treaty (Johnson 355). Later, after the fall of France to Germany in June 1940, he went on to persuade Britain of the possibility of their invasion (Johnson 349). Churchill, therefore, through his election and recognition of the political placement and failures to bring peace in Europe, was able to raise Europe’s survival rate against Hitler.
In September of 1946, Winston Churchill made a speech at Zurich University in which he called for a "'United States of Europe'" (www.euro.ecb.int); clearly, this was not a new idea. Churchill thought that by uniting Europe, they would be able to put an end to Europe's decline economically in markets that the United States was quickly taking over.
When it comes to imperialism and colonialism, Great Britain is a major employer of the two concepts. Though, at one point in history many regions of the influential country was ruled over by another. The entity which ruled over the kingdoms of England and Wales for over four centuries was the Holy Roman Empire.
The rise of Great Britain began in the early 16th century and lasted until the mid-19th
After the discontinue of the World War II, the Britain succumbed to an illusion that she could remain in a status of one of the world’s greatest superpowers, because at that time, she still possessed a huge empire as well as a fairly good relationship with the United States of America, a country that always achieved a status of the world’s superpower. Both of these countries were also shared a good partnership in the Cold War as well. As a consequence, Britain still considered herself as one of the major countries that can influence the world affair as Ernest Bevin , the Foreign Secretary of Britain after 1945, did. His purpose was to remain Britain as one of the three major powers like the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:
Jazz, rhythm, and blues filled the houses and streets around the 1950s, but the 1960’s brought a brand new sound that some people were not ready for. This. Sound was rock and roll. The British Invasion brought a fresh, unique sound to the music industry in the 1960s and has had an huge influence in the music that is heard today. Many people think of the Beatles when the invasion is mentioned, along with the Who, the Kinks, the Yardbirds, the Animals, and many others. Apart from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones had a huge part in making the invasion the craze that it was, forever changing the music industry, and the way music was perceived.
Winston Churchill is a great figure in British and world history. After winning the seat of Oldham in the 1900 general elections, he became associated with a faction of the conservative party then led by Lord Hugh Cecil. Churchill opposed government expenditures on the army. His own constituency disliked him, although he was the Member of Parliament until the next general election. After the recess of Whitsun in 1904 he crossed sides to the liberal party where he supported free trade.
In the years following World War II, many scholars argue the United States and Britain have been bonded by a ‘special relationship.’ Since 1945, this relationship has resulted in several policies, both domestic and foreign. The ‘special relationship’ includes aspects in finances, allied forces during the Cold War, similar cultures and even personal relationships between leaders.
The United States and Britain have had a “special relationship” since World War II. Winston Churchill made the expression “special relationship” it stands for the military, political and financial support that has existed between the United States and Britain ever since their partnership in World War II. The special relationship stills lives on in the United States and Britain in four key ways; military involvement, security, economy and traded.
...ed heavily on public subsidy, and the gas and electricity companies had in many cases developed as municipal undertakings. They seem of proper national concern. The iron and steel industry proved more controversial, being denationalized and renationalized in subsequent years. In international affairs the Attlee government introduces a major change of direction, beginning the dismantling of the British Empire. The empire becomes gradually transformed into a Commonwealth of independent nations, capable of accommodating republics as well as monarchies.