Overview

Britain, France and Europe, 1945-1975 takes a fresh look at the international trajectories of Europe’s premier democracies. The side-lining of Britain and France in the Cold War era, argues Adamthwaite, was preventable. A Franco-British Europe came within a whisker of realization. Condemning President Charles de Gaulle as an intransigent gatekeeper created a convenient alibi for self-inflicted missteps. UK bids for European Community membership ignored the elephant in the room - the need for partnership in a superpower age. A marriage powering the Community could have repositioned Western Europe as partner, not client of the United States. Although perceived as a failing power, France outperformed Britain - seizing the initiative in European construction, and winning primacy in western Europe. As well as exploring sharply contrasting national experiences in the aftermath of war, the author analyses the reasons for French success. The analysis evaluates key influences: the mental maps of decision makers; leadership styles; the post-1945 international system; policy making machinery; the ‘democratic deficit’ in British and French politics; and public opinion. Drawing on American, British and French official records, together with private papers and interviews, this enlightening study highlights the importance of contingency and individual actors, and will be of great interest to scholars of modern European history.

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9781441144089

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Reviews

An important book about an important topic. Adamthwaite provides a detailed narrative of Anglo French relations that combines attention to the detailed mechanics of diplomacy with a strong sense of the wider political and social context. --Richard Vinen, Professor of History, King's College London, UK

An important book about an important topic. Adamthwaite provides a detailed narrative of Anglo French relations that combines attention to the detailed mechanics of diplomacy with a strong sense of the wider political and social context. --Richard Vinen, Professor of History, King's College London, UK A wide-ranging, wise and witty account of the tricky relationship between the 'odd couple' Britain and France in the postwar period. Based on a lifetime of writing history but wearing his learning lightly, Adamthwaite opens up new insights and invites us to reflect on how difficult it was for Britain to sign up to the European project. --Robert Gildea Professor of Modern History, University of Oxford, UK

Author Information

Anthony Adamthwaite is Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley, USA.

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