British Political Parties and the Entry of Great Britain into the EEC (1970-1975)

This thesis is focused on the British entry into the European Economic Community in 1973. The reasons why the United Kingdom was led to join the Community are researched in great details. Such reasons also influence the attitude and behaviour of the United Kingdom toward the European Union at present. This historical backdrop could account for British reluctance to join the Community in 1950' as well as the present attitude of British politicians toward the EU. The main British political parties, namely the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, stood on the same side as far as the basic goal was concerned - to maintain the British Empire after the 2WW. The collapse of the British Empire, the poor economy and the Cold War all forced British political parties to find a new position for the United Kingdom in the post-war world. Key words: Great Britain, the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, European Communitie