U.S. – UK ‘Special Relationship’ – A Bond that has Endured for Decades

Abstract

United States and United Kingdom have based their relations on common cultural and historical links and, as Winston Churchill first articulated the notion of a ‘special relationship’, both countries share traditions, values, interests, and institutions of national and international nature. Although the basic elements were important in formulation of the special relationship, there have been a lot of disagreements between the two countries. The aim of this paper is to analyze the ups and downs of the ‘special relationship. There are arguments that this relationship is not so special and many say that it is in jeopardy and this relationship has been the subject of much mockery and criticism, as UK power and capacity has diminished and the U.S. has become more dominant, particularly since the collapse of the Soviet Union. This paper argues that, in spite of what analysts maintain, this ‘special relationship’ should continue, because America and Britain need each other. This paper is written in the historical comparative method aiming at giving a general overview of this relationship. Different from other countries in the world, with which America is looking for other special relationships, Britain has the same commitment to peace, freedom and democracy, and it is willing to fight and stand for these values. America needs companions in its mission of the world leadership, as the only superpower and Britain has a unique role in Europe, being tied to the U.S. by conviction, but also belonging to Europe by necessity.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n3p45