The Struggle Over European Integration in Britain, 1956-63

Europe has always been a vexing proposition for Britain. The country sees itself as a regional power, yet national fervour is very strong. This book examines the ways in which the British government worked with and against influential organizations and individuals in order to manage domestic opposition to a closer association with the European Economic Community. Starting in the late 1950s, advocates of a closer British association with Europe began to compare it unfavourably with the continent, launching Britain on its slow and uncertain transition from an imperial to a European identity. Combining insightful analysis with a careful examination of government and private archives, the author illustrates the domestic ideas that continue to affect Britain's relationship with the rest of the EU.