Anglo-American relations during the cold war and post cold war period

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to seek out some of the historic events plus the more contemporary ones that have justified whilst at the same time reputed the term 'special relationship' that the two nations of Great Britain and the United States have enjoyed over the years especially since WWII. The love-hate relationship was evident amongst leaders and citizens of both countries. Sir Winston Churchill sums up the British feeling when he said, "You can always rely on America to do the right thing. Once it has exhausted the alternatives". Both peoples are proud of being citizens of their country and both believe that the others are less trustworthy, yet when an outsider threatens either country, it is second nature, that the other rallies round in support. This thesis traces this feeling during WWII although the friendship with the Soviet Union caused jealousy to put a hand in; thus justifying that two is company but that three is a crowd. In a trio of friends there always comes a time when two will side together against the third and tins was the feeling that prevailed during the end of WWI. The Cold WaR, the atomic bomb, and the eventual nuclear armament race once more shows the ups and downs that this relationship had to take. Weak and strong leaders on both sides of the Atlantic starved or fed the Anglo-American alliance. Twists and turns of events led the United States to follow one path (Vietnam) and Britain another (membership within the EEC/EU) but like in a maze, the paths always converged and the 'special relationship' was revived. The Post Cold War period to the present traces some of the important events that were brought about with the demise of the Cold War. The United States could no longer justify aiding Britain in keeping a non-existent enemy away from its gates, but the lust for power of Saddam Hussein proved to be the poke that raked the ashes into flame. War in the Balkans brought the military alliance to work together once more. The dissertation rounds off with the September 11th 2001 attack on the United States by terrorists believed to be led by Bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda group. Once more we see a recent case of the 'special relationship' where the tandem moved into action to combat the enemy. Yet in the horizon there looms rifts, as the only superpower feeling is perceived as a form of bullying - the plans to wage war on Iraq, the restriction in the steel industry, as well as the refusal to recognise the ICC. By no means is this an exhaustive essay but this study tries to highlight that the 'special relationship' has always been there under the surface ready to emerge when the need arises.