Nick Clegg, the liberal-democrat hopeful for the UK premiership, is a fun guy. As unlikely as it is, a Lib-Dem victory may spice up the rather dreadfully boring nature of UK politics. And thus, Clegg as a new UK PM could fundamentally change international relations.
Could one imagine a UK that doesn't view itself in a special relationship with the US? Perhaps, but not really.
Could one imagine a UK that wishes it be better integrated with the European Union? Perhaps, but not really.
We cannot imagine them, because they are/were never to be. For the foreseeable future, and no matter what the UK thinks, the "no" answers to the questions above will remain truths. Forces such as culture, values, economics, and tradition dictate their answer. The two major parties in contention for majority in the UK House of Commons will ensure that things stay relatively the same.
If Nick Clegg were to make good on his promises, fundamental posits of international relations would dramatically shift. Perhaps we wouldn't invade countries with little justification if we did not have powerful friends to back us up? Imagine the UK, in coordination with other EU powers, decides to start its own war? Would it be Suez all over again? Or, imagine if the UK were to admonish our human rights record at the United Nations?
This is why it is fun for me. Despite surprise and unpredictability in international relations normally being a harbinger of war or certain conflict, it would be nice to for once not assume that "all things are the same". Whose to say that the shift from a US hegemonic world would be bad? Oh wait, all of these people.
Yet, it is not all fun-and-games for me--Clegg actually has some good ideas. The one that popped out for me was to distrust a Cameron idea of making police commissioners elected officials. Cops in the UK hate the idea, and so should its citizens. We must recall that if the Soviet Union were around today, they would probably be so envious of the amount of government surveillance in the modern British state. Having non-partial, elected officials operate or supervise this system doesn't sound like the best idea.
Calling his main opposition, the Conservatives, "swivel-eyed Eurosceptics", Clegg correctly identifies that if the UK distances themselves from the EU, it would spell bad policy. The EU coordinates important policies; such as, trade, immigration, climate change, and bank regulation--all important areas for the UK and the world.
