Destined to Brexit? British Pathways to Membership in the European Communities 1945-73 (original) (raw)

Review of 'Yes to Europe! The 1975 Referendum and Seventies Britain

Reviews in History

referendum-and-seventies-britain?format=HB#A45VdP8kf6r73vQw.97 Place of Publication: Cambridge Reviewer: Mathias Haeussler Until recently, Britain's first referendum on its membership of the European Community (EC), the forerunner of today's European Union (EU), had not exactly featured prominently in the nation's collective memory: few people seem to have known that such a vote had ever taken place at all. The 2016 referendum, of course, changed things completely, as suddenly 'Remainers' and 'Brexiteers' popped up from everywhere to profess their unrivalled knowledge of what allegedly had-or had not-taken place in 1975. Robert Saunders' thoroughly-researched and stylishly-written study therefore could not be timelier. In over 350 pages, it takes us on a colourful and lively journey into 1970s Britain, showing how the European debate in 1975 was inextricably interwoven with myriad other issues and concerns of the day. Whilst readers looking for neat historical analogies and unequivocal 'lessons from history' will be disappointed, the book nonetheless raises some bigger issues about Britain's delicate relationship with European integration from 1945 right up to the present day.

Britain, Edward Heath and the EEC 1963-1973

A An n nt t th h ho o on n ny y y J J Jo o oe e el l l H H He e er r rb b be e er r rt t t---W W Wr r ri i ig g gh h ht t t Contents Page Foreword Abstract I Introduction 1 Grande-Bretagne, et le "non" du General 7 Edward Heath: Lord Privy Seal 20 Into Europe, at Last! 28 Conclusion 38 Appendix I 40 Appendix II 41 Appendix III 42 Appendix IV 43 Appendix V 44 Appendix VI 45 Appendix VII 46 Bibliography 47 List of Abbreviations III FOREWORD Since this essay was written, Britain have elected a new Prime Minister, his name is David Cameron of the Conservative Party. The Prime Minister seems to have a quite different approach to the EU and its usefulness to Britain as a country. Cameron is arguing for better value from EU than we currently receive. These events we now face are partly due to the way the common market was designed. This essay will explain the history of the E.E.C (what is now the EU), and Britain's entry into it, along with the importance of it to our nation. This essay does not serve as a definitive guide, but instead as literature to understanding Britain's historical entry into Europe and the context in which it happened. Especially with the EU referendum being expected in the new few years, its time us British really developed an understanding of the EU, in both its historical and present context. I ABSTRACT This study of legislative and political history was written to bring an updated perspective on the British political and economic issues that led to Britain's entry into the European Economic Community. This dissertation has utilized parliamentary papers, newspapers of the period, biographies and books discussing the European Economic Community and Britain's relationship with Europe. Its main purpose is to analyse the former Conservative

The United kingdom Euroscepticism and The Brexit’ Referendum 1973/2016

2017

On 23 June 2016, Britain voted, by a way of a referendum, to leave the European Union after more than 40 years of membership, the British people voted for reform and the establishment of new type of relationship. The key historic variables which have contributed extensively to the UK's hostility and ambivalence towards the European Union, Notably, the various factors enhencing the mainsteam of the United Kingdom euroscepticism, empowered by the role of the British press. The Brexit would not only change the internal political atmosphere, but it could have crucial political repercussions within the EU and on its relations with other countries. IV Table of Contents Dedication.

The United Kingdom and the Future of Europe: Winning the Battle, Losing the War

Comparative European Politics, 2004

Although it is tempting to interpret the conduct of the UK government at the Convention on the Future of Europe (and the IGC that followed) as a continuation of the negative policy adopted by previous UK administrations in EU treaty negotiations, such a construal would be mistaken. UK preference formation was, in fact, more complex. Interpretations that highlight UK exceptionalism, the domestic pressures on government, and the role of Eurosceptic backbenchers are similarly problematic. The UK's experience at the Convention underlines, rather, the importance of institutional constraints at both the EU and national level. Moreover, despite London's success in achieving what is widely regarded as a very 'British constitution', the manner of its triumph and the failure to carry public opinion at home threatens to jeopardize not only the ratification of the draft constitutional treaty, but also the realization of the Blair government's broader European objectives.

Irreconcilable differences: Domestic factors in Britain creating an awkward partnership with Europe

2002

Acknowledgements Many generations feel as though they are on the brink of greatness. Mine is one of them. Just as those in the past, my peers at James Madison University and I live in a time of technological breakthroughs, increasing wealth in some places, increasing poverty in others. We have seen the images of war, and we have felt the rumbles of violence. However, most of us have done so from the sidelines. While this is fortunate in some cases, in others it is unsatisfactory for me. We have no great world war to fight except for our own marginalization. As we witness the foundations of a truly ambitious project in the unification of Europe, I strive to become a part of it. I make no claims to it feeling like footsteps on a battlefield or navigating the map of the human genome, but it will nonetheless shape the future of the international community. I look at in as a chance to clean up from the past and events that many in the world still experience today. Therefore, we can all learn from it in some respects, and I choose to do so in hopes of one day shaping it. Torn by centuries of war and tense national rivalries, Europe has attempted to put down its swords, its guns, and silence its tanks in the name of peace and security. While the following sections of this paper examine some faults with this union, especially from a British perspective, it does so without ignoring that any of these faults are simply a byproduct of enormous success. There are several points from which my interest in European integration began, but regardless of this I find it interesting that I encountered them all within the short span iii