UK and US Politics: The Special Relationship

Prof Graham Wilson, Boston University and Prof Wyn Grant, Politics and International Studies, University of Warwick

When David Cameron became Prime Minister the “special relationship” between the United Kingdom and the United States of America entered, yet another, new phase.

Winston Churchill was the first person to use term in this context, when he presented his Sinews of Peace, (the Iron Curtain Speech), at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri on March 5, 1946:

"Now, while still pursuing the method of realizing our overall strategic concept, I come to the crux of what I have travelled here to say. Neither the sure prevention of war, nor the continuous rise of world organization will be gained without what I have called the fraternal association of the English-speaking peoples. This means a special relationship between the British Commonwealth and Empire and the United States. This is no time for generalities, and I will venture to be precise. Fraternal association requires not only the growing friendship and mutual understanding between our two vast but kindred systems of society, but the continuance of the intimate relationship between our military advisers, leading to common study of potential dangers, the similarity of weapons and manuals of instructions, and to the interchange of officers and cadets at technical colleges."

With every election that has seen a new political coupling, journalists and academics have found cause to analyse how the personal relationship will impact upon the “special relationship”. The foundations of the special relationship, however, are a shared language, similar culture, many familial ties as well as a shared stake in historical events - wide-ranging and intertwined. It is not surprising, therefore, that a sort of allegiance has been maintained over the past sixty years despite some specific difficulties between certain prime ministers and presidents. But how has this relationship changed and what will be the significant factors influencing this unusual international bond in the future?

The University of Warwick has developed a strategic partnership with Boston University in the United States and during a recent visit to Boston, Prof Wyn Grant from the Department of Politics and International Studies sat down with Prof Graham Wilson, Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Boston, to identify some of the different fibres that contribute to the special relationship in 2010: