Odd Man Out? Myth and Realities in the British Approach to the European Union

For some politicians and commentators, Britain is always destined to be the 'odd man out' in the European Union, with a history and set of political attitudes which must always pit the United Kingdom's interests against those of its neighbours. For others, such claims of British exceptionalism are at best much exaggerated, and to the extent this exceptionalism exists it arises largely from subjective rather than objective factors. This collection of essays reviews British attitudes towards a number of current European issues. It does not attempt finally to decide the controversy about British exceptionalism, but rather to provide material for a more informed debate on this complex subject.