Continental Drift : Britain and Europe From the End of Empire to the Rise of Euroscepticism

"In the aftermath of the Second World War, Churchill sought to lead Europe into an integrated union, but just over seventy years later, Britain is poised to vote on leaving the EU. Benjamin Grob-Fitzgibbon here recounts the fascinating history of Britain's uneasy relationship with the European continent since the end of the war. He shows how British views of the United Kingdom's place within Europe cannot be understood outside of the context of decolonization, the Cold War, and the Anglo-American relationship. At the end of the Second World War, Britons viewed themselves both as the leaders of a great empire and as the natural centre of Europe. With the decline of the British Empire and the formation of the European Economic Community, however, Britons developed a Euroscepticism that was inseparable from a post-imperial nostalgia. Britain had evolved from an island of imperial Europeans to one of post-imperial Eurosceptics"--Provided by publisher A World Undone. For The First Time In Six Years, Floodlights Cast Shadows Across London's Streets, Brightly Illuminating Nelson's Column In Trafalgar Square, The Great Clock At Westminster And Buckingham Palace. The Brilliance Of The White Ensign, The Union Flag And The Blue Ensign On The Cenotaph Contrasted With The Grime-caked Stones Behind, A Continuing Reminder Of Britain's Industrial Revolution. Despite The Lateness Of The Hour, Crowds Still Converged Around The Great Monuments And Bonfires Burned In Many Of London's Open Spaces, More Than A Few With Effigies Of Hitler Sitting On Top. The Bells Of Churches Across The Capital Continued To Ring, Competing With The Sporadic Fireworks And Making Sleep Impossible, Even If It Were Desired-- Part 1: Imperial Europeans -- Chapter 1: A World Undone -- Chapter 2: Mr Churchill's Europe -- Chapter 3: Mr Bevin's Response -- Chapter 4: The German Problem -- Chapter 5: A Disunited Europe? -- Chapter 6: The Continental Surprise And The Fall Of The Labour Government -- Chapter 7: The Realities Of Government -- Chapter 8: Perfidious Gaul -- Chapter 9: The Decline And Fall Of The Imperial Europeans -- Part 2: Post-imperial Eurosceptics -- Chapter 10: At Sixes And Sevens -- Chapter 11: Towards The Common Market -- Chapter 12: The Rise Of The Anti-marketeers -- Chapter 13: Empire Eclipsed, Europe Embraced, Britain Rejected -- Chapter 14: Entering The Promised Land? : Britain Joins Europe -- Chapter 15: Seasons Of Discontent -- Chapter 16: Half-hearted Europeans -- Chapter 17: Mrs Thatcher, John Major And The Road To European Union -- Conclusion: Post-imperial Britain And The Rise Of Euroscepticism. Benjamin Grob-fitzgibbon. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 561-581) And Index. Cover Half-title page Title page Copyright page Dedication Contents Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction Part 1 Imperial Europeans 1 A world undone 2 Mr Churchill’s Europe 3 Mr Bevin’s response 4 The German problem 5 A disunited Europe? 6 The continental surprise and the fall of the Labour government 7 The realities of government 8 Perfidious Gaul 9 The decline and fall of the imperial Europeans Part 2 Post-imperial Eurosceptics 10 At sixes and sevens 11 Towards the Common Market 12 The rise of the anti-Marketeers 13 Empire eclipsed, Europe embraced, Britain rejected 14 Entering the promised land? Britain joins ‘Europe’ 15 Seasons of discontent 16 Half-hearted Europeans 17 Mrs Thatcher, John Major and the road to European union Conclusion: Post-imperial Britain and the rise of Euroscepticism Notes Bibliography Index A fascinating new account of Britain's uneasy relationship with the European continent since the end of the Second World War, set against the backdrop of decolonization, the Cold War and the Anglo-American relationship. Benjamin Grob-Fitzgibbon charts Britain's evolution from an island of imperial Europeans to one of post-imperial Eurosceptics.