If You're Curious About These Questions...
You should listen to this audiobook
- Have you ever wondered why Britain, a key architect of post-war stability, became the most hesitant member of the very European project it helped inspire?
- Did you know that Britain’s long history of seeking 'special treatment' and exemptions wasn't just a series of accidents, but a deeply rooted political strategy?
- Are you curious about the hidden historical tensions that made the Brexit referendum a predictable outcome of Britain's 50-year struggle with its European identity?
Listen to This Blessed Plot — Free Audiobook
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Key Takeaways from This Blessed Plot
- Discover how Winston Churchill initially championed a 'United States of Europe' to prevent future wars, even though subsequent British governments firmly resisted early integration.
- Understand why Britain's post-WWII preference for broad global alliances over regional supranationalism caused them to sit out the formation of the very first precursor to the EU.
- Find out how the disastrous 1956 Suez Crisis exposed the rapid decline of the British Empire and ultimately forced the UK to recognize the necessity of joining the European family.
- Learn how Britain’s stubborn attempt to maintain preferential trade deals with its deteriorating Commonwealth created major roadblocks during its initial application to the European Economic Community.
- Discover why French President Charles de Gaulle vetoed Britain's 1963 bid to join the EEC, driven by fears that the UK's inclusion would threaten France's political dominance.
Learning Tools
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Mind Map
This Blessed Plot
Post-WWII Hesitation (1945-1950s)
Churchill's Vision
Labour's Opposition
Missed Integration
Geopolitics & Suez Crisis (1951-1956)
US Partnership Priority
Suez Crisis Fallout
First EEC Applications (1957-1960s)
Economic Pressures
De Gaulle's Veto (1963)
Eventual Entry (1967-1973)
Wilson's Pivot
Joining the EEC
The 1975 Referendum
Labour's Internal Split
Vote to Remain
The Thatcher Era (1979-1990)
Financial Renegotiations
Single Market Paradox
Loss of Power
Maastricht & Blair (1990s)
Conservative Civil War
Blair's Caution
Quiz — Test Your Understanding
Question 1 of 8
Why did Winston Churchill's vision for a unified Europe fail to materialize in Britain immediately following World War II?
This Blessed Plot — Full Chapter Overview
Chapter 1: Recommendation
Chapter 2: Britain’s postwar relations with continental Europe began on a notably shaky footing.
Chapter 3: As Western Europe drew together, Britain grappled with other problems demanding attention.
Chapter 4: Britain recognized the EEC’s benefits, yet maintaining relations with its Commonwealth was becoming increasingly problematic.
Chapter 5: Britain’s attempts to enter the EEC met strong resistance, both domestically and internationally alike.
Chapter 6: With the economy struggling in the 1960s, obstacles to Britain’s EEC entry gradually began to slowly disappear.
Chapter 7: Britain entered a shaky relationship with the EEC amid a chaotic period.
Chapter 8: For better or worse, Margaret Thatcher’s leadership further integrated Britain more within the EEC.
Chapter 9: In the 1990s, the Labour Party and Tony Blair capitalized on Britain’s deep divisions over Europe.
This Blessed Plot Summary & Overview
Nowadays, it’s common knowledge that Britain sees itself as distinct from the rest of Europe. For instance, they use the pound instead of the euro and do not take part in the EU free travel zone. But how did Britain’s relationship with Europe end up like this? That’s what This Blessed Plot (1998) is all about. It explains that, since WWII, Britain has had a conflicted relationship with the European project, filled with negotiations and exemptions. With the “Brexit” now on everyone’s mind, find out more about this complicated history and what it might be able to tell us about Britain’s future.
Who Should Listen to This Blessed Plot?
- Anyone interested in the “Brexit” referendum
- Political junkies
- Students of modern European history
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