On The Changes Of The Britain’s International Role After The Post Cold War

Britain’s postwar international role formed in the1950s and, despite some adjustments, it didn’t have substantial change. However, with the end of the cold war, the international system is greatly restructured and the whole world evolves from the bipolar to a unipolar one. At the same time, Europe, rising on the international stage, becomes an important force. For the British, it is undoubtedly a great challenge. In order to adapt to this change, the British are undertaking continuous adjustments of their international role. Based on the international role theory as a framework, the post-cold war changes of the international situation and the different foreign policy of successive British governments, this thesis analyses the UK’s international role adjustments and their causes since the end of the cold war, discusses their effects on the British foreign policies towards America and Europe, and provides some lessons for the peaceful rise of China. This thesis has three parts:introduction, main body and conclusion.In the introduction, the research significance, research methods and research review were mainly interpreted.The first chapter of the thesis focuses on the research framework, including the core concepts of the theory of international role. First of all, this part clarifies the research framework and research focus. At the same time, on the basis of theoretical analysis, the background of the formation of UK international role after World War II is analyzed.The second chapter mainly discusses the characteristics of Britain’s international role during the Cold War, in which the characteristics of the British international role are explored, and it contrasts the British foreign policy before and after the Cold War. The third chapter deals with the period from the end of the Cold War to New Labour Party coming to power. Due to limited time at office, the role of adjustment by the New Labour Government was lack of achievement with "the Maastricht Treaty" as one of the bright spot. So, this part of this thesis, relatively short, mainly is served as a transitional one for the integration of the structure of the thesis and full of the historical fact.Chapter four mainly discusses about the adjustment of the UK’s international positioning and foreign policy in Blair’s administration. Given the significant change of the UK’s foreign policy brought about by"9-11", the author takes "9-11"as a divisive point in the discussion, by which this comparison better enables the clarification of the changing process. The first section talks about the international positioning of Blair’s administration before"9-11", focusing on the internal and external causes of the positioning, as well as its impact on the UK’s foreign policy, especially that on the UK’s attitude towards European defense and security. The second section emphasizes the change brought about by"9-11" in terms of the UK’s foreign policies and the essential international positioning of the UK behind these foreign policies, highlighting the change of the UK’s foreign policy, especially that towards the US and Europe. The author continues to explore the reason of the change and analyze the objective and substance of Blair’s international position adjustment.Chapter five, consisting three sections, discusses about the reflection on Blair’s international positioning failure and the following adjustment in Brown’s administration, as well as the adjustment in Cameron’s administration. Section one focuses on the reflection and adjustment of international positioning in Brown’s administration. Despite the short endurance of the government, Brown’s reflection deserves close observation. Meanwhile, as later Blair’s foreign policy was demonstrated a failure, Brown’s adjustment is well-defined. Though no significant success was achieved, Brown’s adjustment corrects Blair’s mistake and thereby leaves a good starting point for the next prime minister. Its transitioning function therefore is obvious. Section two focuses on the internal and external causes of Cameron’s adjustment of the UK’s international positioning. The analysis and reflection comes from three aspects. The last section focuses on Cameron’s concrete actions in adjusting the UK’s international positioning.The conclusion of this thesis is mainly about the prediction of the Britain government’s adjustment of international role played in the future and, based on the consideration of such international role, Britain’s foreign policy option to US and Europe. Anyway, after detailed and rigorous analysis, as well as brave and careful speculation, the author really hopes to provide some useful knowledge and lessons for reference to making China’s foreign strategy.