FOR THIRTEEN years of Conservative rule British capitalism has faced a central foreign policy dilemma.
As British capital has relied more and more on profits from foreign investment, the Tories have been racked by the contradiction between the rapid development of European unity, and the post-war stance of Britain as junior partner and loyal ally of the United States.
This dilemma has not been finally resolved; but overall, the Tories have been dragged screaming and kicking into the process of deeper European unity.
Central role
The problem stems from the fact that the US and NATO have provided Dritali with its nuclear capacity and its central role in international politics -including its permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. This has been vital in promoting and securing British overseas investment.
On the other hand, only a small part of British capital is deeply involved in the US market. For the long-term future of the economy, as world capitalism divides between the three major blocs of North America, Europe and Japan, the EC is much more important.
Echoes Empire have resounded through Thatcherite years. The British April 4, 1992 AS MALMINAS 7DAN 50. ARGEN jurisdiction of the British crown. Thatcher and foreign secretary Howe were appalled by the high-handed action of the US in not consulting Britain, but acquiesced nonetheless.
British capitalism couldn't afford the vast rearmament rogramme undertaken by the JS under Reagan, but Thatches did her bit in commusstoning the £15 billion Trident submarine programme.
The most dramatic demonstration of Tory prostration to the diktats of US foreign ›oicy was the 1y/b use or British airfields for F-111 bombers to attack Libra. snatcher fully participated in the growing international tirade against "terrorism' scapegoat and criminalise radical third world regimes.
Stalwart
Britain under Thatcher and Major has remained a stalwart of international support for the apartheid regime in South Africa, blocking every attempt at effective sanctions.
Concern for human rights did not extend to the fate of workers and the left in Hong Kong: successive Tory foreign ministers negotiated the return of Hong Kong to China with no human rights guarantees. The rich of course will be allowed into Britain.
key foreign policy pisodes in the final years of the ory regime were the Gulf wai Buropean unity. Coth-eate: and decrepit British imperialism was wheeled out ain to play key supporti: dered 250,000 Iraqis.
But Gulf war glory couldn't hide the reality. Britain is a declining imperialism, more and more forced under the European umbrella to fight for survival. British foreign policy in the 1980s will be remembered for its militaristie hostility to the third worla, fanatical anti-communism, and slavish following of the United States. A sorry and sordid record.