Churchill's Three Majestic Circles Doctrine and the Foreign Policy of the United Kingdom (1951 - 1955)

Abstract

In 1948, when the Conservative Party was in opposition, Winston Churchill made a speech known as the ‘three circles.’ He mentioned three circles that he found essential for the foreign policy of the United Kingdom (UK). These circles comprise the Commonwealth/British Empire, the English-speaking world, including the United States of America (USA), and a united Europe. Using its unique position, the UK would not belong to any circle and would build its global actorness by establishing the balance between these circles and their connections. Churchill's doctrine was followed by many British Prime Ministers who served after him. This article argues that Churchill's doctrine, which has a dominant place in the UK's foreign policy, has been problematic from the beginning. An unelaborated speech by Churchill was so embraced among leaders of the UK because the doctrine prevented criticism that the UK had failed to find a new path in its foreign policy after the Second World War. For this reason, leaders continued to adhere to the doctrine put forward by Churchill rather than seeking a new global role.

Keywords

• Churchill
• Three Circles Doctrine
• United Kingdom
• Foreign Policy

Churchill’in Üç Görkemli Daire Doktrini ve Birleşik Krallık Dış Politikası (1951 1955)

Abstract

Winston Churchill Muhafazakâr Parti’nin muhalefette olduğu 1948’de yaptığı ve ‘üç halka/daire’ olarak anılan konuşmasında, Birleşik Krallık dış politikası için önemli bulduğu üç daireden bahsetmiştir. Bunlar sırasıyla; Commonwealth/Britanya İmparatorluğu, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nin (ABD) de dahil İngilizce konuşulan dünya ve birleşik bir Avrupa’dan oluşmaktaydı. Doktrine göre Birleşik Krallık, her üç dairenin kesişim yerinde bulunduğu için benzersiz bir konuma sahipti. Birleşik Krallık, bu benzersiz konumunu kullanarak, hiçbir daireye ait olmayacak ve küresel aktörlüğünü bu daireler arasında kurduğu dengenin yanında daireler arasındaki bağlantıları sağlayarak inşa edecekti. Churchill’in ortaya koyduğu bu doktrin, kendisinden sonra görev yapan çok sayıda Birleşik Krallık Başbakanı tarafından da takip edilmiştir. Makale, Birleşik Krallık dış politikasında baskın bir yere sahip olan bu doktrinin en başından itibaren sorunlu olduğu iddiasındadır. Churchill’in detaylandırılmamış bir konuşmasının karar vericiler arasında bu kadar sahiplenilmesinde, doktrinin varlığının Birleşik Krallık’ın İkinci Dünya Savaşı'ndan sonra dış politikasında yeni bir yol bulamadığı yönündeki eleştirileri engellemesi önemli bir yer tutmaktadır. Bu sebeple liderler yeni bir küresel rol aramak yerine, Churchill’in ortaya koyduğu doktrine bağlı kalmaya devam etmişlerdir.

Keywords

• Churchill
• Üç Daire Doktrini
• Birleşik Krallık
• Dış Politika

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