British Armed Forces - General & Miscellaneous, Military Policy - General & Miscellaneous, National Security, Great Britain - General & Miscellaneous - Politics & Government, Great Britain - Diplomatic Relations, British History - Military History
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Overview
This book, written by a group of defence economists and analysts associated with the Defence and Security Programme of the IPPR, argues that Britain must relinquish some military roles and missions. Parts of the armed forces are stretched dangerously thin as a result of recent cuts in British defence commitments. Yet funds are still spent on programmes that are increasingly irrelevant in the post-Cold War era: heavy armed forces and an independent nuclear capability. Successive Tory governments have also resisted any pooling of security policy with Britain's partners in Europe, preferring to take direction from Washington. The book argues that henceforth Britain will be a useful ally to the USA only as part of a strong Europe.Synopsis
Following 1990s defence cuts, Britain's armed forces are stretched quite severely. Successive governments have preferred buying US nuclear technology and intelligence to working with European partners. The US has disengaged from Europe, leaving the NATO countries with no common purpose. The contributors to this volume, economists and defence analysts outline how UK governments need to: establish priorities within budget constraints, exploring a division of labour with European partners; restructure the army towards forces suitable for low-intensity interventions and peace support; rationalize defence production and procurement; adapt the bipolar Cold War arms control regimes to the new multipolar world; and redefine the requirement for an independent British nuclear capability.Book Details
Published
April 25, 1996
Publisher
Rivers Oram Press
Pages
321
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9781854890832