The Anglo-American military relationship: Institutional rules, practices, and narratives

Rees, Wyn; Davies, Lance

Abstract

The Anglo-American military relationship is a vital yet neglected area of study. This article argues that the British military have actively cultivated a relationship with the U.S. military that has contributed to the longevity of the broader so-called "Special Relationship", even in the Trump era. The article contends that the complexities of the military relationship can best be captured by the theoretical lens provided by Lowndes and Roberts that combines different strands of institutionalism to focus on rules, practices, and narratives. The intense linkages between the United States and United Kingdom have become routinized, enabling them to adapt their peacetime cooperation to conflicts, and thereby address post-Cold War security challenges. The article draws upon semi-structured interviews with senior British military officers as well as policy documents to explore how these patterns of collaboration have become ingrained in patterns of both thinking and behavior.

Citation

Rees, W., & Davies, L. (2019). The Anglo-American military relationship: Institutional rules, practices, and narratives. Contemporary Security Policy, 40(3), 312-334. https://doi.org/10.1080/13523260.2019.1581973

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 10, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Mar 1, 2019
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Feb 19, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 2, 2020
• Journal: Contemporary Security Policy
• Print ISSN: 1352-3260
• Electronic ISSN: 1743-8764
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 312-334
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13523260.2019.1581973
• Keywords: Political Science and International Relations
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1568572
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13523260.2019.1581973
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=fcsp20; Published: 2019-03-01