An Empire of Influence? British Relations with the United Arab Emirates in the 1970s

Smith, Simon C.

Abstract

As historical debate has moved from an analysis of the end of empire to its aftermath and consequences, there has been growing emphasis on the retention by the colonial powers of a large measure of influence over their former dependencies. With respect to the British experience, some historians have even suggested that the demission of empire amounted to a shift from formal to informal empire, using the term ‘imperialism of decolonization’ to encapsulate this concept. Given the maintenance of British economic and military ties with the fledgling United Arab Emirates which emerged from the small Sheikhdoms of the Lower Gulf in 1971, the UAE provides an illuminating case study to test interpretations that suggest Britain preserved a degree of influence amounting to the perpetuation of empire. Despite the preservation of such ties, the example provided by the UAE indicates that in the aftermath of formal British withdrawal from the Gulf at the end of 1971, Britain’s political, economic, and military position was eroded by the encroachment of other powers, both regional and international. Equally, an analysis of the United Arab Emirates casts doubt on whether British decision-makers actually sought to establish an informal imperial relationship with the Gulf States after 1971, preferring instead to establish recognisably post-imperial relations which respected their independence. Consequently, the ‘imperialism of decolonization’ paradigm is not an appropriate one to apply to British policy towards, and relations with, the UAE.

Citation

Smith, S. C. (in press). An Empire of Influence? British Relations with the United Arab Emirates in the 1970s. Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, https://doi.org/10.1080/03086534.2024.2345466

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 25, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Apr 26, 2024
• Deposit Date: Apr 7, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 29, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History
• Print ISSN: 0308-6534
• Electronic ISSN: 1743-9329
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03086534.2024.2345466
• Keywords: Britain; The United Arab Emirates; Informal empire; Imperialism of decolonisation
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4620474
• Additional Information: The article has been peered reviewed and accepted. It is currently with the production editor for the Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History.