Thread by @uOttawaCIPS

Up next is Brendon O’Connor – we’ll be sharing his thread from this account. #5EyesCIPS

Post-WWII, the FVEY included Australia. This is puzzling because AUS was of marginal importance to the USA, especially on security issues. So, why include AUS in the sharing of intelligence? Was it because of Australia’s status as former British, white colony? #5EyesCIPS

My colleague Lloyd Cox & I argue that cultural affinity and race (whiteness) is central to the special relations between the US and Australia that has led to the sharing of national security intelligence. #5EyesCIPS

We make our case by bringing together the literature on US “special relationships” with the literature on emotions in International Relations. #5EyesCIPS

Despite periods of stress and occasional sharp differences on issues of international importance, the United States has, since WWII, maintained the form and substance of special relationships with the Anglosphere countries via the FVEY alliance. #5EyesCIPS

Even where the immediate interests/preferences of the US have clearly been incongruent with those of its partners, the FVEY persists – i.e. Canada’s 2003 decision not to join the US in Iraq & NZ’s 1986 decision to stop US nuclear warships from entering its harbors. #5EyesCIPS

Similarly, the US’s obdurateness to lifting trade barriers to many categories of Australian, New Zealand and Canadian agricultural exports is another example of interests diverging but the special relationship prevailing. #5EyesCIPS

The longevity and habitual closeness of these relationships suggests to us that they are not reducible to interests and values alone. #5EyesCIPS

With regard to the US-Australian “special relationship” a sense of shared history, values and even race was important. #5EyesCIPS

This importance was in creating the willingness of both parties to enter into the 1951 ANZUS alliance, from which the non-white Philippines was excluded at Australia’s behest, and to forge the Five Eyes Intelligence agreement. #5EyesCIPS

The latter, which was conceived at the exclusive White’s “gentlemen’s club” in London just after WWII is the closest intelligence sharing relationship America has and it is highly prized by America’s partners – the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. #5EyesCIPS

In conclusion, reflecting on positive examples and negative examples of alliance politics, requires us to recognize the ever-present place of emotions and race in special relationships of international relations. #5EyesCIPS