Shame And Glory, Of The British Empire

After the Second World War, the downside British Empire experienced two wars, namely the Suez Canal War in which the UK suffered a thorough failure and the Falklands War in which the UK beat Argentina and enjoyed a glorious victory. The two different outcomes of the two different wars bringing about the different feelings of humiliation and honor to the UK can be attributed to some profound causes. This paper strives to deliver a contrast and analysis upon the causes of the different outcomes of the two wars and their influences to the UK.The victory or failure of UK in these two wars relies on three factors as followed: firstly, the American backing serving as the most important external factor for the wars. Out of the different strategic concerns, the United Sates adopted different viewpoints towards the two wars. During the Suez Canal War, United States' strong opposition and its political, economic as well as the diplomatic pressures directly led to the UK's failure; but for the case of Falklands War, United States tried its hardest to support the UK with the logistics and various conveniences, which played a key role for UK's victory against Argentina. Secondly, the Soviet Union factor. The Soviet Union's position also played an important role for the outcomes of the wars. In the Suez Canal War, the Soviet Union got in high tension with the UK and even threatened with the war, which accelerated UK's failure; in the Falklands War, the Soviet Union kept a seemingly neutral position and sat idle with the situation, which helped the UK win the war. Finally, the UK's self—location also served as an important factor to the outcomes of the wars. In the Suez Canal War, the UK still wished to act like a world power regardless of its recession therefore emerged a lot of missteps followed by the tragic failure of the war. In the Falklands War, the UK finished its role-changing from a world power into a regional power, guided by a more pragmatic internal and external policies, the UK won the war with its sound military and economic might. The opposite outcomes of the two wars produced opposite affects to the UK. Firstly, to the politics, economics as well as the various walks of the society inside UK. The failure of the Suez Canal War led to the reformation of the British cabinet and the continuous economic recession after the war overshadowed a whole generation. The victory over the Falklands War enabled the Thatcher cabinet win another term in office and fostered the resurgence days of British economy and lifted the confidence and pride of the British people and consoled the longstanding "Empire complex" in this country. Secondly, to UK's foreign policies. The failure over the Suez Canal War greatly hurt UK's international status and urged it to transform its world—power based foreign policies. After the war, the UK adjusted its policies upon the colonies, the commonwealth and the European affairs and reinterpreted the goal and connotation of its foreign policies. The victory over the Falklands War rebuilt UK's confidence and its international status and made its foreign policies more flexible and pragmatic. Finally, to the Anglo—American relation. The Suez Canal War was considered as a turning point for postwar Anglo—American relation, the disparities between the two countries showed in the war and United States' betrayal offered a dead blow to the Anglo—American relation, since then, their bilateral relation was in stalemate. The Falklands War improved the Anglo—American relation, United States' strong support restored UK's determination to further enhance the special Anglo—American relation, after that, their bilateral relation was getting closer and closer.