The Special Relationship and British Foreign Policy: A Constructivist Analysis.

This paper examines the Anglo-American ‘special relationship’ since 1945. While most studies focus on utilitarian or cultural perspectives to explain the resilience of the relationship, this paper adopts a constructivist approach. The ‘special relationship’ has become a key norm for British foreign policy makers that shapes decisions and policy goals. The ‘idea’ of the special relationship has dominated British foreign policy from Churchill to Blair even if the rationale for its existence has been transformed by changes in relative power and despite the difficulties that the ‘special relationship’ has caused for Britain’s relations with Europe, the Middle East and domestic public opinion. The paper examines the creation of the ‘special relationship’ and the impact of foreign policy crises upon it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]