Anglo-American relations. Re-imaging in search of 'specialness'

Marsh, Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3411-6488 2025. Anglo-American relations. Re-imaging in search of 'specialness'. The International History Review Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This article re-images the Anglo-American special relationship in the form of a Venn diagram comprising three interlocking circles. Each circle constitutes a domain of Anglo-American activity – identified as the functional, cultural and performative domains. This better captures the intricate mosaic, unusual quality and durability of UK-US relations than do the traditional ‘layer cake’ or ‘coral reef’ representations. The latter are overly functional and static, reflecting particular methodological preferences and underplaying the dynamism and complexity of the special relationship. By contrast, the Venn diagram imagery illustrates how Anglo-American relations exhibit special characteristics in each domain and that the durability of the special relationship derives especially from the continual interplay between them. Moreover, unlike the ‘layer cake’ or ‘coral reef’ representations, the Venn diagram imagery allows for how the relative importance of functional cooperation, cultural connections and public performance of special Anglo-American relations ebbs and flows depending on context.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Cardiff Law & Politics
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	0707-5332
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	8 January 2026
Date of Acceptance:	24 December 2025
Last Modified:	08 Jan 2026 17:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183450

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