Foreign affairs - BLAIR

?
what did Blair want to achieve regarding foreign policy ?
Wanted to build diplomatic bridge between the Europeans + Americans
1 of 39
what were FP aims? (x5)
• To be at heart of Europe • Maintain + further strengthen the ‘special relationship’ • Make full use of NATO + US support in European allies • Strengthen commonwealth • Ensure an ethical + moral foreign policy
2 of 39
what was labours traditional stance of Europe + what happened in 1983 do to change this?
Labour traditionally against Europe – Wilson = half-hearted attitude Not till 1983 – removed clause
3 of 39
Blair's personality affected his FP?
Blair was presidential leader. Good relations w/ other European leaders
4 of 39
divisions over joining the Euro?
Blair = enthusiastic about joining European currency, Euro • But Brown, chancellor of exchequer was far less keen – set up no. of econ conditions that had to be met - v specific + unlikely to be met. Torie party + public opinion against
5 of 39
Blair's involvement in European initiatives?
climate change + aiming to ‘make poverty history’ by reforming aid in Africa. centre of efforts to develop a common European strategy against threat of global terrorism after 11th September 2001 (9/11) events
6 of 39
what happened in 2007 regarding EU enlargement ?
2007 – European union expanded to 27 states – rapid enlargement forced many changes in nature of the EU + its methods of reaching decisions
7 of 39
what was 'The Six' + what was changing regarding it?
‘The Six’ – an econ community dominated by partnership between France + western Germany was now becoming more political organisation in which states of ‘New Europe’ (former communist states of USSR) play role
8 of 39
what was Blair's relations w/ Europe like after he resigned ?
his personal prestige in EU was still high + he still enjoyed good relationship w/ French president, Nicholas Sarkozy + German chancellor, Angela Merkel + w/ ‘New Europe’
9 of 39
negatives of Europe change after Blair resigned as PM?
progress on climate change + aid in Africa slow. Britain unlikely to join Euro . • Attempts to reform workings of the EU ended in rejection of proposed new constitution – Lisbon treaty 2007 - diluted scheme for reform BUT controversy
10 of 39
what was Liberal interventionism + special relationship w/ USA?
Liberal interventionism defined Blair’s FP - belief that a country should intervene in another country for ‘liberal aim’s.
11 of 39
what was the Blair doctrine ?
speech in Chicago April 1999 – BLAIR DOCTRINE confirmed UK commitment to USA policies of liberal interventionism - justifying humanitarian intervention in sovereign states
12 of 39
how many wars did Blair send Britain into to?
Blair sent forces into battle 5 times in 6 years!
13 of 39
what were successes of Blair's liberal interventionist stance?
NATO bombing of Yugoslavia led by UK forced 1999 + 2000 – British forces involved in CW Sierra Leone (successful – sent in to evacuate foreigners, but once there, brit forced supported UN peacekeepers in securing capital + helped end CW
14 of 39
what did the successes give Blair?
These successes gave him a strong argument for future intervention
15 of 39
what was War on Terror ?
War on Terror (involved 9/11) led to British intervention against Taliban + Al Qaeda in Afghanistan in 2001 + against Suddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003
16 of 39
what was 9/11?
9/11 – 4 airlines hijacked by Al-Qaeda terrorists - 2 planes hit twin towers + 1 hit pentagon of Washington + 1 crashed before reaching target – 3000 died
17 of 39
Blair's opinion on the special relationship + relationship w/ Clinton
Blair was keen on maintaining ‘special relationship’ – Clinton = USA president. strong relationship between them as both appealing to third way ideology.
18 of 39
what did Blair believe after failure of EU + UN to deal with Yugoslavia crisis ?
After failure of EU + United Nations to deal w/ Yugoslavia crisis Blair was convinced needed to keep US involved in European affairs + to make full use of NATO to defend new world order
19 of 39
who was new US president in 2000?
2000 – George W. Bush– Republican
20 of 39
Blair + bush relationship ?
Blair + bush formed close relationship, especially on how to meet threat of global terrorism. Led to accusations that Britain’s FP became dominated by US
21 of 39
what happened after 9/11?
preparations began immediately to NATO forces to invade Afghan – where Taliban govt. allowed Al-Qaeda to use country as planning terrorist operations
22 of 39
what happened in October 2001 regarding Britain and US campaign to overthrow Taliban ?
October 2001 – brit joined US in military campaign to overthrow Taliban + expel Al-Qaeda from Afghan
23 of 39
success of US military campaign ?
No instant pacification of country + leaders of Taliban + Al-Qaeda escaped. • From 2002 – attention draw to Iraq – critics argued this allowed Taliban to regroup in 2006 + 2007
24 of 39
significance of Blair's intervention in Iraq?
‘Blairs war’ in Iraq was defining issue of his political career
25 of 39
what were the fears about threat that Saddam may represent in the west ?
• 1st fear – Iraq may be link up w/ Al-Qaeda + provide new base for terrorism • 2nd fear – Iraq may develop WMD
26 of 39
what was UN resolution in 2002 regarding Iraq?
• UN resolution 2002 forced Saddam to allow weapons inspectors back into Iraq •2003 – USA believed he was not properly cooperating, 'axis of evil' speech
27 of 39
what was 2nd UN resolution regarding and success?
• Blair made strenuous efforts to win over European allies by posing for 2nd UN resolution BUT was unsuccessful
28 of 39
when was Invasion of Iraq launched by US forces and who backed it?
Invasion of Iraq launched by US forces in March 2003 backed by Britain, Italy, Poland etc.
29 of 39
critics + supporters opinions on invasion in Iraq?
• Blairs critics say Blair knew that USA were going to invade Iraq + simply used UN resolutions as way of bringing Europe around • Blaire’s defenders argue Blair was convinced about dangers of WMD
30 of 39
outcomes of Iraq war ?
• Military victory + overthrow of Saddam was complete by April 2003 BUT was not decisive end to war • 2006 – improvements in security situation + Iraqi govt. had become more stable
31 of 39
what was govt. response to British involvement in Iraq?
• British involvement proved controversial – 4 ministers (incl. foreign secretary Robin Cook) resigned over issue
32 of 39
what was public response to British involvement in Iraq?
• ‘Stop the War’ march London Feb 2003 attracted +1 million
33 of 39
what was the major issue regarding British involvement in Iraq?
• Failure to find evidence of WMD – used to justify invasion – heightened criticism. used a dossier to justify involvement w/ USA - claimed brit intelligence found evidence of WMD in order to get support from Brit govt. - Blair lied to parliament !
34 of 39
what was Britain accused of after Iraq war ?
• 2003 – brit govt. accused of having exaggerated threat • Brit + US troops accused of mistreating Iraqi prisoners of war
35 of 39
success of Iraq war ?
End of 2007 – Britain achieved only very limited success in Iraq – well short of ambitious goals set out in 2003
36 of 39
overall - what were consequences of Iraq War ?
War damaged Blair + Britain’s reputation • Idea of liberal intervention was discredited • BUT democratic govt. existed in Iraq instead of Saddam’s dictatorship + could still be hoped that this govt. might have stable + successful future in LT
37 of 39
what was Britain's position in the world by 2007?
Blair made efforts to mediate in the middle east BUT Brit not seen as independent •‘special relationship’ strengthened BUT Brit position in Europe remains ambivalent. Britain did not join Euro '99. •divisions between EU countries-opposed intervention
38 of 39
what did some believe that Iraq war confirmed for Britain?
Some believed it confirmed Britain was very much a junior partner in special relationship – ben dominated by USA
39 of 39

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

what were FP aims? (x5)

Back

• To be at heart of Europe • Maintain + further strengthen the ‘special relationship’ • Make full use of NATO + US support in European allies • Strengthen commonwealth • Ensure an ethical + moral foreign policy

Card 3

Front

what was labours traditional stance of Europe + what happened in 1983 do to change this?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Blair's personality affected his FP?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

divisions over joining the Euro?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar History resources:

See all History resources »See all Modern Britain - 19th century onwards resources »