論英美特殊關係的特質及其維繫原因

The Anglo-American Special Relationship: The Nature of Its Specialness and Explanations for Its Persistence

張心怡(Hsin-Yi Chang)

《歐洲國際評論》 5期 (2009/07) Pp. 75-107

https://doi.org/10.7071/EJIR.200907.0075

摘要

「英美特殊關係」是第二次世界大戰後英國政府「三環外交」中不可或缺的一大重要支柱，它不僅對於戰後國際秩序的建立與發展具有不容忽視的影響，更是當代國際關係裡一個罕見的現象。傳統國際關係理論將國家視為無秩序國際體系中尋求自保的理性決策體，其對外行為純然以國家利益為主要考量，然而對於往往以忍讓協調來面對彼此摩擦與衝突的英美特殊關係，該理論似乎缺乏解釋的效力，英美特殊關係的存在及其特質也因此成為必須進一步深入討論的議題。為此，本文說明英美特殊關係的形成背景與過去的歷史發展，藉以呈現英美關係之特質，接著檢驗傳統國際關係理論對於英美特殊關係的適用性，最後提供傳統國際關係理論之外關於英美特殊關係之所以維繫的其他觀點。

關鍵字

英美特殊關係 ； 聯盟 ； 英國 ； 美國

並列摘要

The ”Special Relationship” between Britain and the United States has been the indispensable component in the ”Three Circles” of British foreign policy since the end of the Second World War. It not only has far-reaching implications for the establishment and development of the post-World War order, but also a rare phenomenon in the contemporary international relations. Traditional theories of international relations have held that states are rational actors who seek to survive in a self-help anarchic world and act in their national interest. However, the Anglo-American Special Relationship demonstrates the shortcomings of traditional thought as, in times of conflicts and crises, Britain and the United States tend to accommodate, even risk sacrificing one's own interest, rather than competing with each other. The special nature of the Special Relationship and its persistence thus becomes an interesting issue that needs to be studied in depth. By reviewing the background and development of the Anglo-American Special Relationship since the Second World War, this article tries to illustrate the nature of its specialness. It then examines the inadequacy of the interpretations for nations' behaviors by traditional international theorists and finally, offers explanations that have contributed heavily to the persistence of the Anglo-American Special Relationship.

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