chapter twenty four Flashcards
(22 cards)
launch of the euro
1999
expansion of eu from 15 to 25 states
2004
(included countries like czech republic, cyprus, estonia, malta, poland, etc.)
why were the usa and europes relationship strained in this period
post cold war conflicts in the balkans and middle east
euro
common european currency
set up in 1992
britain negotiated to opt out and did not join when it launched in 199
examples of britains growing relationship with europe
opting back into the european social chapter
blairs personal good relations with other european leaders
(allowed britain to take a more leadership role when changes, like the expansions, occured)
examples of britains growing relationship with europe ‘in the wider world’
blair took lead in european initiatives on issues like climate change, world trade, and reforming aid for africa
britain was at the centre of european strategy against terroism post 9/11
result of britains increased involvement in eu
good for relations and reputation but actually achieved very little
aid for africa and climate change very slow
little reform within the eu at this time
new labours stance on the special relationship
keen on maintaining
bill clinton
very similar to tony blair
both influences by third way
george w bush
republican voted in 2000
had less in common with blair but very strong close relationship
bonded over war on terror
– led to accusations of british foreign policy becoming dominated by us priorities under blair
nato bombing of yugoslavia (led by british forces)
may 1999
final phase of the balkan wars
blair convinced a reluctant clinton to back military action in serbia
199 prolonged nato bombing campaign
successful in forcing serbian extremists to pull forces out
early success moulded blairs politics to think this always works
intervention in sierra leone to resolve the civil war
may 2000
rebel forces in the civil war in sierra leone threatened to take over the capital city
british forces supported UN peacekeepers in securing the capital
helped end the civil war 1 year later
invasion of afghanistan and overthrow of the taliban
october 2001
afghanistan and the taliban had allowed Al-Qaeda (9/11 guy) to use the country to plan and train terrorist operations
britain joined u.s. in a military campaign to overthrow the taliban and expel Al-Qaeda (supported by nato and un)
was not successful (leaders of taliban and al-qaeda escaped and there was no instant pacification of the country into a democratic state)
focus changing to iraq in 2002/3 allowed the taliban to regroup in 2006/7
invasion of iraq by america led coalition with britain
may 2003
saddam hussein had been ‘contained’ by economic sanctions and no fly zones, enforced by nato
increasing fears of the threat hussein offered (as leader of iraq)
and increasing fears that iraq would create a weapon of mass destrucion (wmd)
invasion of iraq launched by usa due to feeling that hussein was not ‘cooperating’ with their weapon checks
but backed by countries like. britain, poland, italy, et.c
military victory and overthrow of hussein occured april 2003
but britain stayed involved in iraq despite controversial ethics
by blairs leaving office, iraq had a technically democratic system rather than hussein. but country still had lots of issues
birtish withdrawal from iraq announced by brown
december 2007
liberal intervention
a belief that a country should intervene in another country for liberal aims (i.e. human rights)
blair firmly believed in this
examples of blairs liberal intervention
yugoslavia
sierra leone
post 9/11 war on terror (afghanastan, iraq)
response to british invasion of iraq
stop the war march - london 2003 - more than 1 million people
(due to failure to find evidence of iraqs weapon of mass destruction, which was used to justify the invasion, and belief that the uk and us had exaggerated the theat)
war strongly damaged blairs reputation
weapons of mass destruction (in iraq)
nukes, chemical, biological weapons
hussein was known to have used chemical weapons
but had them expelled by un in 1997
no proof he had anymore, but the fear was justifiable
new labours goals for foreign policy (1997)
uk leading player in europe
increasing respect, understanding and goodwill for britain
to supply an ethical content to foreign polciy
to make britain a leading partner n aworld community of nations
britains actual foreign position by 2007
close relationship with bush reduced Britain’s portrayal as an independant and fair judge of international disputes
increased involvement and authority within the eu - but not really meaningfully
and did not join the euro 1999
strengthened special relationship with america - and americas interests dominated lots of other british foreign polciy in this time
invasion of iraq by 2007
defining foreign policy for blair
hope for new secure iraqi state
but war had cost in money, lives, diplomatic effort (high opportunity cost and casulties)
