Tharmarajah MA Thesis Poster

Deciding on War and Peace: The Battle for British War Powers in the Post-Iraq Era Vigunthaan Tharmarajah Abstract Prime Ministers at War Tony Blair’s extraordinary decision to ask for Parliament’s Thatcher was uncharacteristically loyal to Parliament approval for British military deployment in the Iraq War Thatcher was at a low-point in her tenure Koufogiorgos her Cabinet during the war, following the prompted lingering questions about who decides on matters when the Falkland Islands were invaded. Asserts strategic decisions of her military of war and peace in modern Britain. His successors’ use, and Margaret Thatcher Her decisive leadership during the war is advisors without interfering. She was thereby confirmation, of the new parliamentary prerogative Itself (Falklands War) largely considered to be a turning point in Cartoon by Kostas often out-of-step with ministers at other suggested a fundamental reorganization of war powers in what would become a landmark points in her premiership, prompting Tony Blair’s decision to give Parliament an a priori vote British politics, giving Parliament a significantly stronger Government in British history. several high-profile resignations. before the Iraq War set a precedent on how Britain went to position in the realm of foreign affairs. This paper argues that war. Blair was not constitutionally mandated to do so, and his a number of factors, like a Prime Minister’s leadership style, Blair’s popularity also enabled him to Blair was immensely popular having led successors could well have chosen to break with the the role Cabinet and the civil service, and Parliament’s dominate Cabinet in a way that few prime the Labour Party to resounding victories precedent. Ultimately, David Cameron would help cement it, governing disadvantages that makes it difficult for Members Tony Blair ministers had since Thatcher. Subsequent in 1997 and 2001. At the time, it allowed not only repeatedly asking for the approval of MPs but also of Parliament to assert themselves proactively rather than (Iraq War) reports on the Iraq War would condemn him to be decisive, putting his reputation accepting their veto, as he did in 2013. His successor, Theresa reactively, make the prospect of a “War Powers Act” his disregard for Cabinet norms and on the line in order to get what he wanted. May, however chose to bypass Parliament in 2018 when she enshrining Parliament’s constitutional role in authorizing war unusual decision-making style. joined allies in coalition airstrikes in Syria. highly unlikely. Cameron was much more cautious than Cameron was unlike Blair in that he Blair, perhaps partly informed by the preferred collective decision-making and Implications Background David Cameron latter’s tainted legacy after Iraq. Though set up the National Security Council on (Libya, Syria, ISIS) described as a passionate interventionist, his first day in office. The NSC would May’s decision, taken in the context of her predecessors’ The evolution of British war powers is characterized by a he didn’t seek to defy Parliament, both in help guide him in military conflicts actions, casts significant doubt on the prospects of a ”War gradual transfer of power, from the monarch, to the Prime rhetoric and actions. throughout his premiership. Powers Act” that would formalize Parliament’s role in Minister and now to Parliament. For one of the most storied authorizing military actions. Indeed it suggests that the military powers in the world, Britain has yet to codify these parliamentary prerogative that has emerged since Iraq, and important powers in any formal way. This is in stark contrast An overview of the emergence of the parliamentary prerogative many have come to equate to law, remains at the mercy of the to how war powers have been formally enshrined in other executive, and his or her willingness to cede power. countries, like the United States. The emergence of a July 2007 August 29, 2013 April 14, 2018 parliamentary prerogative in the last two Gordon Brown’s Government MPs vote to block British Theresa May does not ask for decades complicates the question of issues a Green Paper military involvement in Syria, Parliament’s approval before who decides on matters of war and suggesting the deployment of the first time Parliament joining U.S. and French allies peace in Britain today. troops should not be decided effectively vetoed a proposed in launching air strikes against solely by the Government. military action. the Syrian government. March 18, 2003 March 22, 2011 December 2, 2015 Tony Blair gives Parliament a MPs approve an intervention Cameron wins a parliamentary vote on the Iraq War, giving in Libya after troops had been vote on British participation in MPs a say on a British deployed; David Cameron an coalition airstrikes military action for the first promises to consult campaign in Syria against time ever. Parliament on further actions ISIS. David Mayers, Faculty Advisor | Department of Political Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Boston University | May 2020.

Load more