16 Oct 10
Interesting blog post in the Economist:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2010/10/britain_outlier_nation
From the conclusion:
"this country lacks soulmates among the world's great powers. Too American to fit in on the continent. Too European to comprehend America's Tea Party insurgency or the rough and tumble of Australian politics. Too Western to become a linchpin of some deep alliance based on the Commonwealth's emerging powers.
Britain has stumbled into a lonely spot on the map."
16 Oct 10
Originally posted by DrKFI'm sure they'll handle it stoically.
Interesting blog post in the Economist:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2010/10/britain_outlier_nation
From the conclusion:
"this country lacks soulmates among the world's great powers. Too American to fit in on the continent. Too European to comprehend America's Tea Party insurgency or the rough and tumble of Australian politics. Too Wes ...[text shortened]... the Commonwealth's emerging powers.
Britain has stumbled into a lonely spot on the map."
16 Oct 10
Originally posted by DrKFwelcome to HongKong.
Interesting blog post in the Economist:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2010/10/britain_outlier_nation
From the conclusion:
"this country lacks soulmates among the world's great powers. Too American to fit in on the continent. Too European to comprehend America's Tea Party insurgency or the rough and tumble of Australian politics. Too Wes ...[text shortened]... the Commonwealth's emerging powers.
Britain has stumbled into a lonely spot on the map."
16 Oct 10
Originally posted by DrKFTrue, but a common position for Britain.
Interesting blog post in the Economist:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2010/10/britain_outlier_nation
From the conclusion:
"this country lacks soulmates among the world's great powers. Too American to fit in on the continent. Too European to comprehend America's Tea Party insurgency or the rough and tumble of Australian politics. Too Wes ...[text shortened]... the Commonwealth's emerging powers.
Britain has stumbled into a lonely spot on the map."
Over the centuries the unwritten "foreign policy" has been to ally with others against the most powerful nation.
Only since WWII has this changed and the British people have always felt uncomfortable with their American allies.
Perhaps its something in the British mentatlity but we always seem to support the runners-up - we dont support winners or front-runners - we try to balance power.
And yes it is perhaps a lonely position in the playground not having any "best friends" but we do have lots of friendly acquaintance!
17 Oct 10
Originally posted by DrKFLonely? Pfft. They get to be part of multiple power blocs.
Interesting blog post in the Economist:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2010/10/britain_outlier_nation
From the conclusion:
"this country lacks soulmates among the world's great powers. Too American to fit in on the continent. Too European to comprehend America's Tea Party insurgency or the rough and tumble of Australian politics. Too Wes ...[text shortened]... the Commonwealth's emerging powers.
Britain has stumbled into a lonely spot on the map."
17 Oct 10
Originally posted by DrKFThe British don't have to understand the American Tea Party insurgency. Heck, half of Americans don't understand it.
Interesting blog post in the Economist:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2010/10/britain_outlier_nation
From the conclusion:
"this country lacks soulmates among the world's great powers. Too American to fit in on the continent. Too European to comprehend America's Tea Party insurgency or the rough and tumble of Australian politics. Too Wes ...[text shortened]... the Commonwealth's emerging powers.
Britain has stumbled into a lonely spot on the map."
Britain still fits in very nicely with British-American culture.
17 Oct 10
Originally posted by avalanchethecatNah. You're not embraced because you don't want to be. You're special. You and your descendent nations won the 20th century. And the 19th. And the 18th. And the dominance keeps going back for a while. To allow Britain to be embraced by one bloc would somewhat cut bridges with others. Britain hedges it's bets with skillful diplomacy.
So what's new? The only time we've ever been embraced by other countries was when we forced them into it!