Europe and the Struggle for Leadership: Britain and France, 1945-1975

Europe and the Struggle for Leadership offers a comparative history of sharply contrasting national experiences in the aftermath of the Second World War. Perceived as a failing power, post-war France seized the initiative in European construction, gaining ascendancy in Western Europe; Britain became the sick man. How and why did the French outsmart their arch-rivals? Drawing on American, British and French official records, together with private papers and interviews, Anthony Adamthwaite explores the reasons for French success. As well as reassessing Britain's membership bids for the European Community, the analysis evaluates key influences: the mental maps of decision makers; leadership styles; the post-1945 international system; policy making machinery; the 'democratic deficit' in British and French politics; and public opinion. The study highlights the importance of contingency and individual actors. Britain's altercation with the Community's French doorkeeper, argues the author, ignored the elephant in the room- the need for a revived entente in the Cold War era. An Anglo-French couple powering European unity could have repositioned Western Europe as partner, not client of the United States. Britain, France and Europe, 1945-1975 takes a fresh look at the international trajectories of Europe's premier democracies. The side-lining of Britain and France in the Cold War era, argues Adamthwaite, was preventable. A Franco-British Europe came within a whisker of realization. Condemning President Charles de Gaulle as an intransigent gatekeeper created a convenient alibi for self-inflicted missteps. UK bids for European Community membership ignored the elephant in the room - the need for partnership in a superpower age. A marriage powering the Community could have repositioned Western Europe as partner, not client of the United States. Although perceived as a failing power, France outperformed Britain - seizing the initiative in European construction, and winning primacy in western Europe. As well as exploring sharply contrasting national experiences in the aftermath of war, the author analyses the reasons for French success. The analysis evaluates key influences: the mental maps of decision makers; leadership styles; the post-1945 international system; policy making machinery; the 'democratic deficit' in British and French politics; and public opinion. Drawing on American, British and French official records, together with private papers and interviews, this enlightening study highlights the importance of contingency and individual actors, and will be of great interest to scholars of modern European history. "Britain, France and Europe, 1945-1975 offers a comparative history of sharply contrasting national experiences in the aftermath of the Second World War. Perceived as a failing power, post-war France seized the initiative in European construction, gaining ascendancy in Western Europe; Britain became the sick man. How and why did the French outsmart their arch-rivals? Drawing on American, British and French official records, together with private papers and interviews, Anthony Adamthwaite explores the reasons for French success. As well as reassessing Britain's membership bids for the European Community, the analysis evaluates key influences: the mental maps of decision makers; leadership styles; the post-1945 international system; policy making machinery; the 'democratic deficit' in British and French politics; public opinion. Britain's altercation with the Community's French doorkeeper, argues the author, ignored the elephant in the room - the need for a revived entente in the Cold War era. An Anglo-French couple powering European unity could have repositioned Western Europe as partner, not client of the United States. This enlightening study highlights the importance of contingency and individual actors, and will be of great interest to scholars of modern European history."-- Provided by publisher Europe and the struggle for leadership' offers a comparative history of sharply contrasting national experiences in the aftermath of the Second World War. Perceived as a failing power, post-war France seized the initiative in European construction, gaining ascendancy in Western Europe; Britain became the sick man. How and why did the French outsmart their arch-rivals? 00Drawing on American, British and French official records, together with private papers and interviews, Anthony Adamthwaite explores the reasons for French success. As well as reassessing Britain's membership bids for the European Community, the analysis evaluates key influences: the mental maps of decision makers; leadership styles; the post-1945 international system; policy making machinery; the 'democratic deficit' in British and French politics; public opinion. The study highlights the importance of contingency and individual actors. Britain's altercation with the Community's French doorkeeper, argues the author, ignored the elephant in the room- the need for a revived entente in the Cold War era. An Anglo-French couple powering European unity could have repositioned Western Europe as partner, not client of the United States __Europe and the Struggle for Leadership__ Drawing on American, British and French official records, together with private papers and interviews, Anthony Adamthwaite explores the reasons for French success. As well as reassessing Britain's membership bids for the European Community, the analysis evaluates key influences: the mental maps of decision makers; leadership styles; the post-1945 international system; policy making machinery; the 'democratic deficit' in British and French politics; and public opinion. The study highlights the importance of contingency and individual actors. Britain's altercation with the Community's French doorkeeper, argues the author, ignored the elephant in the room- the need for a revived entente in the Cold War era. An Anglo-French couple powering European unity could have repositioned Western Europe as partner, not client of the United States. Half-Title Page 2 Dedication 3 Title Page 4 Contents 5 List of Illustrations 7 Acknowledgements 8 List of Abbreviations 10 Preface: Distrust and Verify 11 Introduction: A Tale of Two Cities 17 Part I Chosen Peoples 26 1 Anglo-Saxon Attitudes 27 2 Vive la France 39 3 Strangers 52 Part II Reversal of Fortunes 66 4 New Look 67 5 De Gaulle Redux 82 6 Unmerrie England 100 7 Running on Empty 113 Part III Bids 128 8 Unshakable, Constant, Effective 129 9 Supermac 147 10 Another Harold 165 11 Bash on Regardless 179 Conclusion: Endgame 195 Timeline 205 Appendix 1. Britain and French Governments, 1944–75 210 Appendix 2. Foreign Secretaries and Foreign Ministers 212 Appendix 3. Foreign Office and Quai d’Orsay 213 Appendix 4. European Economic Growth, 1950–80 214 Notes 215 Select Bibliography 241 Index 252 Copyright 275