"At the end of the Second World War, the French territory was ravaged. France suffered a humiliating defeat in 1940; however, it managed (thanks to the allies) to end up in the side of victors....Show more"At the end of the Second World War, the French territory was ravaged. France suffered a humiliating defeat in 1940; however, it managed (thanks to the allies) to end up in the side of victors. Nonetheless, France desperately needed American aid to rebuild itself in order not to fall in the Soviet orbit. In the first years of the Cold War, the fourth Republic seemed to have traded the American military umbrella for an independent foreign policy. Moreover, the birth of NATO in 1949 appeared first to unify the West against the Soviet threat. Nevertheless, tensions between France and the United States were already rising. Their main issue concerned the decolonization, but the number of problems involved would only increase with time. Those tensions would, indirectly, bring the downfall of the fourth Republic and, ironically, bring back De Gaulle to power. President De Gaulle would, in the first four years of his term, remain close to the United States, despite some divergences with the American administration. The end of the decolonization process ended a burden for France, freed the French ambitions. The policy of "Grandeur" was launched. The French and the Americans would have, in the years following 1962, significant divergences which would almost ruin the dialogue between the two countries".Show less
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...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
