Edward Heath, his vision for Europe, his Government and Henry Kissinger’s Year of Europe.

Edward Heath’s political career and ideologies were dominated from an early age on by Europe and later a possible British entry into the European Community. When he became Prime Minister he therefore did everything he could to accomplish British entry into the EC and succeeded. 1973 was the year in which Britain formally joined the EC, but it was also the year chosen by Henry Kissinger as the year in which America diverted a lot of their focus to the European continent to reinforce and reinvigorate the old Atlantic Alliance between the two continents. To accomplish this, the Americans started an initiative which they named the Year of Europe. This initiative would fail spectacularly; not only was the preparation that went into it from the American side insufficient, but Europeans were found to be largely uninterested in the initiative as well. Rather, they were busy with British entry into the EC and the redefinition of their new enlarged community. This left Heath in a pivotal...Show moreEdward Heath’s political career and ideologies were dominated from an early age on by Europe and later a possible British entry into the European Community. When he became Prime Minister he therefore did everything he could to accomplish British entry into the EC and succeeded. 1973 was the year in which Britain formally joined the EC, but it was also the year chosen by Henry Kissinger as the year in which America diverted a lot of their focus to the European continent to reinforce and reinvigorate the old Atlantic Alliance between the two continents. To accomplish this, the Americans started an initiative which they named the Year of Europe. This initiative would fail spectacularly; not only was the preparation that went into it from the American side insufficient, but Europeans were found to be largely uninterested in the initiative as well. Rather, they were busy with British entry into the EC and the redefinition of their new enlarged community. This left Heath in a pivotal position with regards to both intra-European and Atlantic relations, the latter because of the historically good relations between Britain and the Americans they were seen as their first liaison between America and Europe. This thesis will show that because Edward Heath had such a preference for a strong Europe and thus chose to give less attention to the relationship with the Americans the initiative would accomplish much less than it would have if there had been a more traditional Atlanticist Prime-Minister. In doing so this thesis will not only give an overview of the Year of Europe initiative from a British point of view, but also will reflect on the large role a small number of individuals can play in the formation of policy that would affect so many.Show less

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Edward Heath, his vision for Europe, his Government and Henry Kissinger’s Year of Europe.