A Study Of The British Labour Party On European Integration

Britain, a big European countries and a main state member of European Union, can't be ignored from the process of European integration. The policies to Europe are components of the British foreign policies after the Second World War, and the position and attitude of European integration is the core of that correctly.This text, through reviewing the process of the British Labour Party's policy to the European integration, analyzes the reasons to cause this transition. Firstly, this dissertation analyzes the traditional European integration policy of Labour Party before 1980s, and points out that its attitude towards Europe is anti- Europe, doubt Europe at this stage, and analyzes objectively the reason for forming this attitude, which is mainly the geographical position of Britain, historical tradition, traditional ideology, U.S.A.'s factor and etc..Secondly this thesis analyzes the policy position of the Labour Party towards European integration, which is affirmed and supported gradually in Kinnock period and Blair period. Through explaining this transition of policy, this text shows that the factors of politics, economy and European Union's own factor under the new situation are the main reasons that impel European policy to switch. However this policy still is limited.Finally, the text summarizes the characteristics of the European integration policy of Labour Party from the process of history, and points out its essence that keeps Britain interests, makes adjustment based on long-term interests of Britain. Moreover this kind of policy of the Labour Party exerts a far-reaching influence.