An Analysis Of Britain's Impacts On European Union's Common Foreign And Security Policy After The Cold War

Since the end of the Cold War,European Integration has been quickening its pace.European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy(CFSP),the core of its political integration,has been gradually developing as the contradiction of its intergovernmental and supernational characters is being overcome.However,its intergovernmental character is more prominent.So far,CFSP functions as nothing but a multilateral cooperative regime in diplomatic domain where the member states are the final decision-makers.In this area,Britain,France and Germany are predominant.After the Cold War,Britain,a latecomer,especially since New Labour Party came to power in 1997,has been playing an ever-increasing part,which can't be ignored.This paper consists of four parts,among which I focus on three parts---the second,the third and the fourth part.In the first part,I give a brief introducion of CFSP,defining CFSP and some other closely-related concepts,and also give a shortened account of evolutionary process of CFSP, its character and major deficiencies.In the second part,from both international and domestic perspectives,I discuss the conditions favorable for Britain's participation in CFSP after the cold war.Internationally,the change in world structure and European situation,that in European Union's perception of Britain provides a background while,domestically,such factors as the adjustment of British policy toward European Union by Major administration,New Labor's revised Ideology,Blair and New Labor's perception of Europe,and the adjustment of Britain's diplomatic strategy,are the inner motivation.In the third part,I discuss major factors retarding Britain's participation in CFSP after the cold war from international and domestic angles respectively.Internationally,the factors include doubt of Britain on part of other member states,and special Britain—US relations. Domestically,they contain Britain's positioning of its status in the post-Cold War world,party politics and the general public's skepticism of Europe.In the fourth part,I,taking Iraq War and Iran Nuclear Issues as instances,explore Britain's impacts on CFSP in terms of its decision-making mechanism,its means,or ESDP,and its implementation.To conclude,I predict the prospects of CFSP and Britain's participation and possible impacts in the coming days.I argue that we should evaluate Btitain's impacts on CFSP comprehensively.Moreover,I mention this paper's weaknesses and jobs to be done next for further research.