New Labour and the New World Order : Britain's Role in the War on Terror

The war on terror has shaped and defined the first decade of the twenty-first century, yet analyses of Britain's involvement remain limited and fragmentary. This book provides a comprehensive, detailed and critical analysis of these developments. It argues that New Labour's support for a militaristic campaign was driven by a desire to elevate Britain's influence on the world stage, and to assist the United States in a new imperialist project of global reordering. This included participation in the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, support for extra-legal measures and a diminution of civil liberties through punitive anti-terror legislation. Ostensibly set within a political framework of promoting humanitarian values, the government’s conduct in the war on terror also proved to be largely counter-productive, eroding trust between the citizenry and the state, putting the armed forces under increasing strain, reducing Britain's global position and ultimately exacerbating the threat from radical Islamic terrorism. While new imperialism is typically treated as either an ‘economic’, political’, ‘militaristic’ or ‘humanitarian’ endeavour, this study seeks to enhance current scholarly accounts by setting the events and dynamics of the war on terror within a more holistic and multi-dimensional account of new imperialist forces. This book will be of interest to teachers and scholars of British foreign policy, international relations and security studies. It will also appeal to anyone interested in Britain’s role in the war on terror The 'war on terror' has shaped and defined the first decade of the twenty-first century. Launched by the United States in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the declared objective of the campaign was to deal with the threat posed by a confluence of rogue states, international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. The underlying dynamics, however, were conditioned by a shift in the US towards a new imperialist strategy of global reordering that had been set in train since the end of the Cold War In this endeavour, the administrations of George W. Bush enjoyed staunch support from a New Labour government keen to elevate Britain's influence in international affairs. This included British participation in the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, support for extra-legal measures taken by the US and a diminution of civil liberties through punitive, anti-terror legislation. Ostensibly set within a political framework of promoting humanitarian values, the government's conduct in the war on terror has been largely counter-productive. Having eroded trust between citizenry and state, put the armed forces under increasing strain, undermined social cohesion, reduced Britain's global position, and exacerbated the threat from radical islamic terrorism both at home and abroad, the consequences will be felt for many years to come The War On Terror Has Shaped And Defined The First Decade Of The 21st Century, Yet Analyses Of Britain's Involvement Remain Limited And Fragmentary. This Text Provides A Comprehensive Detailed And Critical Analysis Of These Developments. Steven Kettell. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 185-195) And Index. This book will be of interest to teachers and scholars of British foreign policy, international relations and security studies. It will also appeal to anyone interested in Britain's role in the War on terror. Book jacket