British Foreign Policy Towards The I.R. Iran With Special Reference To The Two Main British Governing Parties: 2000-2015
The Labour government’s participation in the war in Afghanistan, in the aftermath of September, 11th 2001, and the 2003 war in Iraq, were all limited to the context of the Anglo-American Special Relationship23, which was more of a British, and American relation, than concerning the Anglo-Iranian affairs, as such with very little significance on Irano-UK relation.
Having concentrated so far, in the article, on the British Labour government’s foreign policy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran, while in Office during 2000-2010, the article shall, now move on to the Conservative government’s attitudes, and foreign policy ideas towards the Islamic Republic of Iran, since its coming to Office, in the summer of 2010.
The British Conservative Foreign Policy Analysis Towards the I.R. Iran: 2000-2015
The attitudes, and policy ideas of the British Conservative party’s foreign policy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran in the beginning of the twenty first century is now the focus of this article. It is, however, just as was done, with the Labour party, in this article, necessary, first to the Conservative party’s foreign policy doctrine in our consideration, before proceeding any further.
Although, as was mentioned about the Labour party, in this article, that, economic considerations, just as any other party in British politics, are the driving force behind policies, nevertheless ideological factors play a leading role in formulating, and influencing policy ideas, this is no more true than the Conservative party in their decision makings. But, it must be emphasized, nonetheless, that there comes a point, where there is a gap between political ideology, and political practice, which was seen in the article, when the Labour government moved, at a certain point towards the Anglo-American Special Relationship strategy, towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. The British Conservative party, not only is no more exception to this ‘rule’ however, but, it is also even more, as will be seen in its political attitudes any policy ideas, during the course of this article, very instance of rapidly departing from ideology, and soon joining political practice.
The Conservative party ‘proclaims’ the necessity for capital-labour co-operation and a ‘property-owning democracy’. It proclaims the need for free competition in industry and the end of restrictive practices both between employers and among employees. It is the party of social mobility. ‘Quality and not equality’ ‘opportunity rather than security’ are two of its slogans”24. The Conservative party’s policies are, on the whole, hard to characterise. “At some periods ideas such as individual freedom will be clearly articulated and may even produce concrete policy proposals designed to promote such values.”25 At some other periods, as was witnessed in the policy of the Labour party, and any other party, in the UK, it may “seen to embody so wide a range of political ideas that few distinctive doctrine features can be detected.”26 The British Conservative party is the party of class that has its roots in the landed gentry of early nineteenth century. There are various groups and institutions such as the Church of England, ancient universities, the Guards regiments and the legal profession. These groups are collectively known as ‘the Establishment’, which is traditionally associated most closely with the Conservative party. The British Conservative party traditionally, however, always overtly, in its foreign policy attitudes and ideology has had a strong sense of involvement with perceiving, British interests through overseas connections, and thus foreign policy has had a special status in its policy ideas, and attitudes. After all it takes the pride to call itself the Party of Empire, even now at the end of the first decade of the 21st century, forty eight years, after the decolonisation process in 1963, which was completed, by ironically, the then Conservative government, under the premiership of Harold Macmillan, the British Conservative party, takes a statement and, nostalgic view of foreign policy.
