|
author |
Ryan S. Strauss
| title |
The Anglo-American Special Relationship:
Antiquity or Destiny?
| abstract |
As one of the predominant forces that has shaped the modern geopolitical landscape and
international world order, the Anglo-American Special Relationship continues to be a unique
multilateral partnership between the United States and United Kingdom to this day. There has
been a certain degree of debate in the academic sphere and more broadly regarding the nature of
the special relationship, including assertions that it is not truly 'special,' that it has outlived its
practicality post-Cold War and post-World War II, or even that it is 'dead' and no longer exists.
This raises several questions—does the Anglo-American special relationship exist? If so, what is
its root cause that distinguishes it as 'special' and sets it apart from other U.S./U.K. ally
relations? This thesis argues first, that the special relationship does in fact exist, and second, that
its existence and longevity are ontologically grounded in classical liberal philosophy. As a result
of common political philosophy that has influenced both states political institutions, norms, and
foreign policy, the U.S. and U.K. as nation states are natural allies to one another. There are
numerous factors which contribute to the 'specialness' of the special relationship, but its
grounding in philosophy is the unifying component whose presence is necessary for the special
relationship's continued existence. A historical survey of U.S.-U.K. relations, analysis of public
opinion polling, examination of United Nations General Assembly voting, and international
relations theory are used to prove the special relationship's existence. Following this, key texts in
classical liberalism are discussed and distilled into a set of criteria by which the U.S. and U.K.'s
political institutions, norms, and foreign policy are evaluated, showing the influence of classical
liberalism on the two states. At that point, it will be manifestly evident that the depth and breadth
of liberal philosophy is the ontological grounding of the special relationship, whose existence
continues to influence political actors and the broader public globally.
| school |
The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
| degree |
B.A. (2021)
|
advisor |
Carlos Yordan
|
committee |
Erik Anderson Marie-Pascale Pieretti
|
full text | RStrauss.pdf |
| |