REDEFINING 'BRITISHNESS': BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY AFTER THE COLD WAR

In: International affairs, Band 68, Heft 3, S. 423-442

Abstract

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL ORDER SINCE 1989 HAS FUNDAMENTALLY ALTERED THE CONTEXT FOR CONDUCTING BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY. BEHIND THESE RAPID CHANGES IN BRITAIN'S POLITICAL AND SECURITY ENVIRONMENT, MORE GRADUAL TECHNOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES HAVE FURTHER UNDERMINED THE ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE HAS ALSO BEEN ALTERING THE CHARACTER AND COHESION OF THE BRITISH STATE THAT FOREIGN POLICY IS INTENDED TO SERVE. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, CONTINUING TO PUT SUBSTANTIAL MINISTERIAL TIME AND PUBLIC EXPENDITURE INTO NATIONAL FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICIES, NOW MUST PERSUADE ITS AUDIENCE BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE BRITAIN THAT IT STILL HAS A DISTINCTIVE PERSPECTIVE TOWARDS SHARED SECURITY AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.