The British-German-US Relationship Psychological Foundations of the relationship WILTON PARK BRITISH-GERMAN FORUM 2005 Monday 11 – Friday 15 July 2005.

The British-German-US Relationship

The British-German-US RelationshipPsychological Foundations of the relationship

WILTON PARK BRITISH-GERMAN FORUM 2005Monday 11 – Friday 15 July 2005

Dr Nicholas BeecroftPsychiatrist

Empathy/Understanding

British-American Empathy is highest, but not as high as the Germans think.

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

Respect

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

Trust

British-American trust highestbut Brits trust the Americans less than vice versa

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

Loyalty/Commitment

British-American loyalty & commitment highest.

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

Emotional attachment

Britain-US by far the highest

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

EmotionsFeelings about: by themselves By others

Germany Liking, Affinity, Love, Concern, Anxiety

Liking, Affinity

UK Liking, hope, backward-looking

Liking, affinity, affection, confidence, respect, selfish, cold, ambivalence

USA Pride, fear, love Worry, admiration, ambivalence, anger

•Germany & UK liked more than US•Everyone likes their own country, especially the Germans•No difference between UK/German feelings about US•People respect and like UK but think its selfish and cold•Lots of angry and resentful feelings about US•US is feared by 50% but also respected, admired

Communication

British-American communication is better (but less than the British and Germans think)

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

Mutual benefit of cooperation

German-US lower than others

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

Shared values and beliefs

Britain closer to others

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

Shared interests

German-US lower

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

Shared identity

British-US closest

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

German thinking about Foreign Policy

• Germany values– international law– human rights– multilateralism – peaceful solutions – rejection of power-politics – European project more than global role– Foreign policy should not purely be based on self-interest

• Germany limited by– its role in the 20th century World Wars– domestic problems – Not willing to take responsibility outside of its borders

British thinking about Foreign Policy• Thinks Global, not European

– Imperial habits, global experience– Optimistic about opportunities from globalisation– Perceives itself as a leading nation– Bridge between US and EU– Partner of US in managing the international system– thinks it can play Athens to Americas Rome

• Thinking– Pragmatic, Empiricist – trust own instincts, ready to go it alone– Rational, calculating in its self-interest– expects respect but doesn’t respect others – Less multilateral than Germany, more than US– Self-righteous as a defender of the weak– After a century of decline, there is a new self-confidence on the global

stage

US thinking about Foreign Policy

• Proud, patriotic and self-confident as the only superpower– Determined to maintain its dominance– Believe that their values are universal– More unilateralist– Reluctant to shoulder responsibilities of global hegemon– believe they have a unique opportunity to shape the world– short-termism over long term challenges– Paradoxically insular (in spite of global power and nation of immigrants)– Lack insight into their unpopularity in some places– As ever, torn between those who are isolationist versus the democratic

imperialists• War on terror mentality• Missionary zeal

– founding myth– religious undertones)– Belief in specialness of US– Moral superiority

Competition

Germans & US: British-German most competitiveBritish: see all 3 equally competitive

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

Rational co-operation

Britain perceived as best at it by others

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

Manipulation/ Coercion

British-German least manipulative

1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

Overall Relationship

Britain & US closest (empathy, respect, trust, loyalty, identity, emotional attachment)

Germany much closer to Britain than US German feelings towards US not reciprocated

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Britain-Germany

Britain-USA

Germany-USA

German Foreign Policy Behaviour

• Style– Submissive, apologetic, passive– Economic, not cultural or political leadership– Talks, doesn’t lead– Co-operative– Responsible– Cautious– Slowly growing assertiveness

• Specifics– lobbying for a role on the UN Security Council– Very active in EU– Use of force in Afghanistan– Opposition to Iraq war

British Foreign Policy Behaviour

• Reliable partner/poodle of the USA• Influenced heavily by the US • Pragmatic ‘pick-and-choose’ on EU level• Very active in defending its interests• Tries to lead globally• Interventionist, activist• Acts as mediator and facilitator• Prepared to use force• Multilateral approach

US Foreign Policy Behaviour

• Boldly pursues its own interests• Very unilateralist• Coalition-building according to security interests• Use power to gain compliance• Use moral and security arguments to advance economic agenda• Double standards • Doctrine of pre-emption rather than containment or balance• Democratic, economic and cultural imperialism• Irrational attachment to Israel• Promotes integrated but submissive Europe• Missing an opportunity to build global governance for the long term

British-German cooperation

• Co-operation regarding US is moderately low (2/5)• Fall-out over Iraq was more the exception than the rule• Competition primarily in business and in football• Business-like co-operation in EU, NATO, UN

– American-EU trade disputes – Peacekeeping in Afghanistan– CFSP- e.g. Iranian nuclear programme– UK officially supports Germany quest for a permanent seat in

the SC

Barriers to British-German Cooperation regarding the US

• The UK-US special relationship– Exclusive British-American security co-operation (Security Council, Nuclear,

intelligence, Iraq)– British culture, language and history much closer to US than Germany – UK economy much closer to US structure– Britain trusts the US much more than it does Germany

• British-German factors– Britain doesn’t want Germany to be an equal partner in relation to the US– Different attitudes towards the use of (military) force in international relations – Germany much closer to France and Russia – Germany much more committed to EU integration– Historical baggage from WW1 & 2

• Political– Different attitudes to the current US administration – Differences with regard to the preferred economic/social model

How could Britain and Germany co-operate better with each other in dealing with the USA?

• Co-operate where there is shared interest and don’t waste time arguing where they disagree

• Make EU CFSP a success• Co-operate on Iraq’s future• Improve French co-operation with UK and US• Regime change in US (and Germany!)• Build a culture of organisational co-operation

• No room for improvement