Over here in the UK this term is oft invoked -but I wonder is it such a ‘special’ one…if so how is it special -I mean Oedipus had a special relationship with his mummy —? My personal view is that it does tend to be so in times of adversity but in other aspects -then it seems to me its ‘every man for himself’…?
Someone’s been listening to the Liberal Democratic candidate’s position on foreign affairs.
There is nothing particularly special about our relationship from the US perspective that distinguishes the UK from other European nations, don’t get me wrong, we’re fast allies but its not like we’d take sides in a dispute between the UK and say Canada. I think some politicians there try to tap into the national sense of gratitude for WWII to convince the populace that following George Bush into Iraq would be a good idea considering we’re syuch special friends and all.
moodswinger, would you mind giving more of an explanation of what you’re talking about here? I moved this thread from Great Debates to MPSIMS, our general discussion forum, because I thought you might be talking about relationships in general. If you’re talking about the relationship between the U.S. and the U.K., I’ll send it back.
I was about to query the apparent downgrading to the mundane. I really meant to discuss the reputed special relationship between our two nations-which is made much of each time our two leaders meet.
In that case it’s back to Great Debates. I modified the thread title so the topic is clearer.
This may happen any time the US leader travels to another place and meets the local leader. Certainly, here in Canada, much is made of the “special relationship” between the US and Canada any time their President visits here, or our Prime Minister visits there. You may not hear much about US-Canada relations in the UK, but that “special relationship” phrase does get trotted out at those times.
Churchill’s idea, resurrected by Thatcher, and bought into by FDR and Reagan respectively.
At the time Churchill advanced it, it had merit – Britain was the second largest naval power, one of the Great Powers of the day, could effectively speak for the Empire and Commonwealth, and had shared ideals with the US which most other nations did not subscribe to (or were third- or fourth-rate powers if they did). We were the two big kids who had seen the light and were out to put the bullies in their place, so to speak.
That’s just sweet talking. The UK does have access to some things that, even theoretically, are unlikely to be shared with many other countries: the stock of Trident D5 missiles. It’s claimed that the sharing of intelligence is unusually close (along with Canada, Australia and New Zealand) but who really knows about such matters.
Its clearly a 'working 'relationship but I’m getting the impression its not as special as is made out …?
The “special relationship” is an idea whose time is probably over. The Iraq fiasco has damaged it perhaps beyond repair. Tony Blair and Britain went to huge lengths to support the US but they got nothing of any value as far as I can see; no real influence on Iraq policy but a whole lot of bother both personally for Blair and for his country in terms of the Iraq occupation.
A hung parliament looks likely after the next UK election with perhaps a coalition role for the LDP. Who knows, there could be a shift towards proportional representation which could mean we never see a solo Tory government ever again. The Tories are probably the only party on either side who truly care about the special relationship since they view it as an alternative to Europe. After Iraq and the departure of Blair, Labour is also cooler towards the US. If some kind of Lib-Lab coalition becomes the default government in the UK, the special relationship probably won't survive. Obviously Britain and the US will still be fairly close allies but the relationship will secondary to Britain's relationship with Europe.I hope the relationship between the UK and U.S. will continue but understand about the Iraq war. It does make me wonder how Tony Blair could not back the U.S. at that time and still have a friendly relationship. The Iraq war was a sad event in our country, too.
So once again we draw together for support in a war situation but is it there once the need for that support is over? I’m thinking -for example–of the contretemps beween the airline manufacturing industry [govt influenced I would wager] ?
Countries don’t really have friends or special relationships, only interests. More often than not over the last 60 years those interests have broadly aligned for the UK and US, although there have been notable points of contention, Suez springs to mind.
I heard a wry comment about this recently-- there was a British book or film alluding to this topic and called something like The Special Relationship. But they had to change the title when they sold it in the US, because Americans were not familiar with the term. 
Well, the U.K. is destined to save the U.S.'s ass in World War 3.
I think -realistically- the only way would be to jump in the way of the assassin’s bullet !
The core of it is that, even after 200+ years, the US still shares more in common in terms of culture, legal systems & principles, and of course language with the UK than we do with any other country. Most certainly more than with any of the other European countries.
Absolutely. This. This all the way. The US and UK certainly do have a more “special” relationship than, say, the US and Sri Lanka do.
If there is any sense of national gratitude for WWII, I’m not aware of it and can’t imagine it ever being invoked by politicians as an excuse for war. A more common feeling re: WWII might be ‘what the fuck took you so long?’. (Not trying to start an argument here - these aren’t MY feeling - but Brits get very prickly when USAians invoke the ‘if it wasn’t for us you’d all be speaking German so show some gratitude’ line.)
Is there any sense of national gratitude towards the French for their role in the American Revolution?
The war didn’t take place in my lifetime or in my mother’s lifetime. If I was living in the UK I don’t see why the fuck I should feel gratitude towards the US for WWII.
That being said, we seriously kick ass.