Answer to Question #240786 in Macroeconomics for Bianca

Question

why does great britain have such a great influence on the european union?

Answer 1

Great Britain is one of the largest countries in Europe, since 1952 a nuclear power, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a member of the Group of Seven (G7), Group of Twenty (G20).

On the night of 31 January to 1 February 2020, at exactly 23:00 London time, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland officially seceded from the European Union. But the UK and the European Union remain the main trading partners.

As Prince William, Duke of Cambridge noted in a speech to graduates of the Foreign Office Diplomatic Academy in February 2016, “For centuries Britain has been a 'outward-looking' nation,” beyond the British Isles, and a sense of purpose and curiosity remains continue to be the driving forces for the economy, cultural and educational exports, the military and the diplomatic service of the United Kingdom.

“Soft power” as a reliance on the attractiveness of national values, culture and foreign policy to achieve goals and increase the country's influence in the world played a significant role in British foreign policy strategy long before the appearance of the corresponding term in the 1990s.

By “soft power”, the author of the concept, J. Nye, means force based on the attractiveness of national culture, values ​​and foreign policy, and opposes it to “hard power” based on coercion or bribery. He believes that in the modern world, not only the military and economic capabilities of the state, but also "the ability to convince others to want what you want" are of increasing importance.

Several factors can be identified that contribute to the active use of the concept of "soft power" in British foreign policy and provide certain advantages over other countries:

1. The country has accumulated a lot of practical experience in this area. The current British soft power policy of the country is based on institutions and mechanisms that have evolved over many decades. The country's colonial past has significantly influenced the formation of British soft power policy. The British Empire interacted with numerous peoples around the world and established its own order, created administrative structures, spread the norms and principles of organizing various public and state institutions, educational institutions, introduced people outside the country to its culture and language. Some institutions and mechanisms created during the period of the British Empire still function today.

2. The “soft power” of a country is considered by experts and politicians in close connection with the “hard power”, i.e. with economic and military power.

3. Numerous non-state actors are involved in the work to increase British influence: commercial companies, non-governmental organizations, business associations, cultural institutions, universities and schools (including private ones), the media and famous people. Thus, a significant part of the activity in this area is carried out independently of the state or with its minimal interference.