英国“从全球事务中撤退”了吗？——2014～2015年英国对外政策辨析

Abstract:British foreign policy has been characterised with “low profile” and “inaction” since the beginning of 2014. Many critics argue that Britain is retreating from the world stage. This article examines these views，as well as the practices of British foreign policy during this period. The article indicates that the British government led by David Cameron has carried out a distinctive “economic diplomacy” and played an active role in the issues such as Afghan election，and anti-Ebola campaign. However，the British government has been reluctant to get involved in the Ukraine crisis and in the strikes against the Islamic State. The author tries to answer why British foreign policy has become “low profiled” by analysing relevant economic，historical，political and ideological factors. It is safe to predict that Britain will still be “inward-looking” in the near future but it is an exaggeration that Britain will withdraw from world affairs. The real change is Britain’s approach to world affairs，that is，it focuses more on “soft measures” than the hard ones in order to maintain its global influence. The Anglo-American special relationship will not fall apart，but selective approach will become its main characteristics in the future.

收起