Anglo-American relations in the twentieth century / Ritchie Ovendale.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ovendale, Ritchie.

Series:

British history in perspective

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Great Britain--Foreign relations--United States.

Great Britain.

International relations.

United States.

United States--Foreign relations--Great Britain.

United States--Foreign relations--20th century.

Physical Description:

vii, 202 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : St. Martin's Press, 1998.

Summary:

How special was the 'Special Relationship' between Britain and the USA during the twentieth century? Did President Roosevelt prefer dealing with Stalin or Churchill? Why have most British Prime Ministers since 1945 -- and in particular Margaret Thatcher -- opted for the Atlantic alliance over the European connection?

Challenging many existing interpretations, Professor Ovendale offers a stimulating critique of the international relations between Britain and the United States throughout this century based on the latest literature and thirty years' archival research. The author contends that in the 1920s, Britain still had 'real' power, whereas the United States was only potentially a world player. During the Second World War it was Stalin and Roosevelt who co-operated, leaving Churchill out in the cold, and that it was Britain who was the original Cold War warrior, educating a reluctant United States to the reality of the Soviet threat. Elsewhere, for example in Korea and the Middle East, Britain decided to rely on the United States for support. This led to a revival of the Anglo-American special relationship in terms of 'mutual interdependence'.

Contents:

1 Rapprochement 1

2 Isolationism and Appeasement 18

3 The Second World War: the Anglo-American Alliance 39

4 The Cold War: Educating the Americans 58

5 The Cold War: Global Strategy 80

6 One among a Number of Allies 99

7 Mutual Interdependence 120

8 The European Dimension 132

9 The Atlantic Preference 144.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 183-190) and index.

ISBN:

0312214545

OCLC:

38426052