| Abstract [eng] |
The research object: The changes in UK foreign policy towards China within the time limits set by the study. The research problem: This master's thesis aims to re-evaluate the argument of asymmetry of power between the UK and China, starting with David Cameron's term. Asymmetry has suggested that the UK will tend to focus more on tackling domestic problems, and that human and material resources should be concentrated closer to the borders of its own country and neighboring region. However, the empirical reality is the opposite, such as Cameron's attempt to establish an equal partnership with China or the promotion of a "British" foreign policy vision that should, in principle, promote the UK's global presence and overseas partnerships. The relevance of this academic contradiction became very noticeable as the UK’s attempts to mobilize political support from the rest of the community of democracies were increasingly seen. The aim of this thesis: The aim of this master’s thesis is to explore why and how the UK has returned from a declared independent foreign policy towards China to a value attitude and close co-operation on this issue with the rest of the democratic community. In order to answer the research question, the following tasks are raised: (1) to present theories of states' adaptation to their relative decline and power asymmetry; (2) to identify the reasons why the UK has turned to the rest of the community of democracies over China in recent years; (3) Assess the basis on which British decision-makers came to factual conclusions about asymmetries in relation to China; (4) to present the conclusions and recommendations of the research. Defensive statements of this research: (1) The UK's consistent turn away from a flexible partnership with China and its return to close cooperation on this issue with the rest of the community of democracies has been due to belated perceptions of asymmetry in the British political elite; (2) The view of UK decision-makers about the asymmetry of relations has been caused by the Hong Kong National Security Act and the deteriorating situation in Xinjiang. The title of this master’s thesis lies in the political dilemma faced by key British foreign policy makers. How long can the UK foster the ambition of an equal partnership with China when obvious problems have been ignored? This study concludes that the UK’s foresight in relation to the emerging Asian superpower has occurred quite recently. Once London reconciled itself to the reality of asymmetry, the only real option remained to restore close cooperation with the rest of the community of democracies, which was the only one that could compensate for the lost benefits in its relations with China. The validity of this insight into the study can be definitively ascertained by observing the most recent and "hottest" developments in international politics. The UK’s key decision-makers quickly came to terms with China’s status as a great power. However, within the same circles of the British political elite, reconciliation with the relative decline of their state was clearly delayed, as there was a widespread belief among them about the obvious and lasting advantage of their state’s economic structure, judiciary and other expertise over China. The first defensive statement is based on the reconciliation of the Johnson government with the relative decline of the UK in relation to China. |
