The Characteristics Of Anglo-American Special Relationship (1991-2006)

During the Second World War,as the main strength in the war, England and America helped each other and depended on each other. They had very intimate special relationship at that time. By the end of the war, they had solid relationship. On March the fifth, 1946, Churchill made a famous speech in Westminster College. In the speech, Churchill appealed to organize a special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United State. From then on, the special relationship had been acknowledged by the two countries. Anglo—American Special Relationship built during the World War II has been going on after the war for the need of their respective benefit and is influencing the international situation and some major affairs as well. Anglo—American Special Relationship had repeated setback and evolution, but it hasn't changed the original nature and the basic target.Anglo—American Special Relationship had some changes and developments at every historic step. In December,1991,Soviet Russia disintegrated. That's the symbol of the end of the cold war. The international situation changed heavily. The new international relationship began to form. It affected the world extensively and deeply, as well as the special relationship between British and America. This thesis plans to discuss the change of the characteristics from the following three aspects: the first one: After the cold war finished, the main target of the two countries changed from being against Russia into keeping the international order that benefit to respective country. The second aspect: the conflicts between the two countries have changed a lot. For example, during the time of cold war, the two countries had many conflicts on how to strengthen the west Europe's defense such as the control of the west Europe. On the attitude of how to treat the socialism, they also had conflicts. After the cold war finished, America's strategy of controlling the world must conflict with England's policy of recovering its international status and keeping the oversea colonies. The third aspect: after the cold war finished, the means that the two countries cooperate have changed a lot. During the time of cold war, the two countries kept their relationship sometimes in tension and sometimes loosely. But in the 1970s, the relationship between the two countries almost changed into natural relationship. But after the cold war finished, the co-operation in anti-terrorism gave a chance to promote the relationship between the two countries. After the Second World War, England's policy to America is to build and keep special relationship with America with the purpose of recovering its international status. At the same time, the two countries target naturally changed onto antiterrorism. While England supported America from all aspects such as spiritual support, co-operation in military field etc. The special relationship between British and America changed at every aspect after the end of cold war mainly because the change of the history background and the two countries'world strategy. During the cold war, American wished British to resist Russia. So it's important to keep a good relationship with British to resist Russia. But British thought more about the benefit of itself.After the end of the cold war, Anglo—American Special Relationship's biggest enemy disappeared. America's European policy began to move eastward. There were many economic conflicts between the two countries. Many people thought the special relationship would disappear too. But the two countries have the same benefit on building their own international order, enforcing the west camp, keeping the national politics, economy. British needed America to strengthen its status in European Economic Community. While in America's strategy of building new order in the world, British played an important role. So with the basis of special relationship, they keep their special relationship all the time.By expounding and analyzing the course and characteristic of its development we can realize its essence better一一--the cause that the two countries formed a tight unity is their common interest. In short, England and American has kept the special relationship after the cold war finished.