It's ironic that the Tories of today are exhibiting 18th century Whiggish traits.
Whereas the Whigs (e.g. Charles James Fox and his ilk) favoured a laissez faire attitude toward mainland Europe and letting problems develop within the balance of power, invariably dealing with them too late and at great cost, the Tories (e.g. Pitt the Younger and friends, representing the King's foreign policy) were all for getting stuck in at the heart of Europe and preventing the rise of an expansionist, nationalistic and hegemonic power before it came to a confrontation by forming prudent alliances, expending less energy and loss of life while shaping the European order to Britain's liking (the King being of German extraction and having an interest in Hanoverian politics). To be fair, the roles had reversed by the 19th century, where some Tories still seem stuck.
When England had extensive territories in the European mainland, it was drawn into all manner of territorial border wars occasioned by kings and princelings wanting to extend their possessions. The fact we no longer have continental lands has imbued Britons with a sense of aloof isolationism from the constant territorial squabbles on the continent, territorial squabbles which were one of the prime drivers for the EU project and the elimination of the cause of so many continental wars - the borders between nations and nationalism.
However, we do have a border with Eire and we still possess Gibraltar. Possibly one solution is to let Northern Ireland and Gibraltar go - along with Scotland. You can't simultaneously be for Brexit and against Scottish independence - well, not without a high degree of cognitive dissonance.
When England had extensive territories in the European mainland, it was drawn into all manner of territorial border wars occasioned by kings and princelings wanting to extend their possessions. The fact we no longer have continental lands has imbued Britons with a sense of aloof isolationism from the constant territorial squabbles on the continent, territorial squabbles which were one of the prime drivers for the EU project and the elimination of the cause of so many continental wars - the borders between nations and nationalism.
However, we do have a border with Eire and we still possess Gibraltar. Possibly one solution is to let Northern Ireland and Gibraltar go - along with Scotland. You can't simultaneously be for Brexit and against Scottish independence - well, not without a high degree of cognitive dissonance.
Churchill was a great advocate of getting stuck in and maintaining the Balance of Power, despite being a Tory.
No comments:
Post a Comment