Alan Dobson – författare

For civil aviation to progress it has never been just about technology and business practices. To go from the rudiments of the early services that plied across short distances in Europe and America to what we experience today required most of all that politicians and policy-makers address the central problems of national sovereignty over air space and national ownership and control over airlines. Those problems have plagued the development of seamless and efficient air services for consumers in the international sphere. One would have thought that international airlines might have led the way towards a uniform globalized system given the nature of their enterprise, but that has definitely not been the case. Sovereignty and security issues have more often than not trumped commercial arguments for a more level playing field for international airlines. There has thus been an on-going tussle between sovereignty, state security and mercantilist practices on the one hand and the ambition for civil aviation to flourish on the other. As one early commentator put it:’ one is convinced that the sovereign state cannot be left without authority over what happens just above its territory, (but) … one shrinks from the idea that aerial navigation could be the object of narrow-minded restrictions.’ How those narrow-minded restrictions were gradually eroded, though still not eliminated, to enable civil aviation to flourish is at the heart of this work. This book will be of direct interest to students of aviation, modern history, international relations and transport. It is also of value to airline industry professionals and government transport departments.

The relationship between Britain and America has been the most important bilateral relationship the world has ever seen. Dobson's concise and readable book covers the whole of this century and employs selected historical detail to expose the special relationship in its true light and in all its complexity.Dobson rejects tha claim that the US was ever hegemonical. Its realtionship with Britain - over the Suez Crisis and Iran in the 1960s and grenada in 1983 - clearly demonstrates that it had to bargain and did not always get its way. However, the two nations co-operated in every major crisis from the Great to the Gulf war, and together promoted liberal democracy and capitalism. The story reveals both more interdependence and conflict than has been recognised in the past.Nuclear, intelligence defence and other links betwen the USA and Britain continue to this day, but the importance of the `special relationship' has diminished for both countries. Have common interests disappeard to an extent that the scope for bilateral cooperation has diminished to insignificince ? It is in addressing this question that Dobson draws his conclusions. Coverning defence, economic, political and personal aspects of Anglo-US realtions, this book will be indispensible for students of twentieth century American and British history and international relations.

How was the European airline industry transformed from national fragmentation in 1957 to a point in 2006 where the European Commission could negotiate with the US for an Open Aviation Area on behalf of all twenty five members of the European Union? What can explain the change in mindset that saw conservatism and the tight regulation of the airline industry replaced with increased competitiveness and the subsequent rise of the low cost no-frills airline? In his new book, Alan P. Dobson draws from a mass of European documentation, including interviews with officials and airline executives and a unique collection of personal papers, to answer these questions. Dobson traces the liberalization of the airline industry from the 1970s right through to the present day, illustrating how integration came about and which forces were driving it. The approach is comprehensive, focusing on the work of the Commission, market forces, the voices of airline industry interests and on key individuals in the policy making process. The story concludes with an overview of the attempts by the EU and the US to create an Open Aviation Area that would embrace their respective airline industries allowing free operation of services throughout their territories and mutual ownership and control of each others airlines. This book is a key resource for students and researchers interested in aviation and international policy, as well as academics engaged with European integration, globalism and economic history.

US Foreign Policy since 1945 is an essential introduction to postwar US foreign policy. It combines chronologic and thematic chapters to provide an historical account of US policy and to explore key questions about its design, control and effects. New features of this second edition include:expanded coverage of the Cold Warnew chapters on the post-Cold War eraa chronology and a new conclusion that draws together key themes and looks to the future.Covering topics from American foreign policy-making, US power and democratic control, through to Cold War debates, economic warfare, WMDs and the war on terrorism, US Foreign Policy since 1945 is the ideal introduction to the topic for students of politics and international relations.

US Foreign Policy since 1945 is an essential introduction to postwar US foreign policy. It combines chronologic and thematic chapters to provide an historical account of US policy and to explore key questions about its design, control and effects. New features of this second edition include:expanded coverage of the Cold Warnew chapters on the post-Cold War eraa chronology and a new conclusion that draws together key themes and looks to the future.Covering topics from American foreign policy-making, US power and democratic control, through to Cold War debates, economic warfare, WMDs and the war on terrorism, US Foreign Policy since 1945 is the ideal introduction to the topic for students of politics and international relations.

This book provides an examination of contemporary Anglo-American relations. Sometimes controversially referred to as the Special Relationship, Anglo-American relations constitute arguably the most important bilateral relationship of modern times. However, in recent years, there have been frequent pronouncements that this relationship has lost its ‘specialness’.This volume brings together experts from Britain, Europe and North America in a long-overdue examination of contemporary Anglo-American relations that paints a somewhat different picture. The discussion ranges widely, from an analysis of the special relationship of culture and friendship, to an examination of both traditional (e.g. nuclear relations) and more recent (e.g. environment) policies. Contemporary developments are discussed in the context of longer-term trends and contributing authors draw upon a range of different disciplines, including political science, diplomacy studies, business studies and economics. Coupled with a substantive introduction and conclusion, the result is an insightful and engaging portrayal of the complex Anglo-American relationship.The book will be of great interest to students of US and UK foreign policy, diplomacy and international relations in general.

This book provides an examination of contemporary Anglo-American relations. Sometimes controversially referred to as the Special Relationship, Anglo-American relations constitute arguably the most important bilateral relationship of modern times. However, in recent years, there have been frequent pronouncements that this relationship has lost its ‘specialness’.This volume brings together experts from Britain, Europe and North America in a long-overdue examination of contemporary Anglo-American relations that paints a somewhat different picture. The discussion ranges widely, from an analysis of the special relationship of culture and friendship, to an examination of both traditional (e.g. nuclear relations) and more recent (e.g. environment) policies. Contemporary developments are discussed in the context of longer-term trends and contributing authors draw upon a range of different disciplines, including political science, diplomacy studies, business studies and economics. Coupled with a substantive introduction and conclusion, the result is an insightful and engaging portrayal of the complex Anglo-American relationship.The book will be of great interest to students of US and UK foreign policy, diplomacy and international relations in general.

For civil aviation to progress it has never been just about technology and business practices. To go from the rudiments of the early services that plied across short distances in Europe and America to what we experience today required most of all that politicians and policy-makers address the central problems of national sovereignty over air space and national ownership and control over airlines. Those problems have plagued the development of seamless and efficient air services for consumers in the international sphere. One would have thought that international airlines might have led the way towards a uniform globalized system given the nature of their enterprise, but that has definitely not been the case. Sovereignty and security issues have more often than not trumped commercial arguments for a more level playing field for international airlines. There has thus been an on-going tussle between sovereignty, state security and mercantilist practices on the one hand and the ambition for civil aviation to flourish on the other. As one early commentator put it:’ one is convinced that the sovereign state cannot be left without authority over what happens just above its territory, (but) … one shrinks from the idea that aerial navigation could be the object of narrow-minded restrictions.’ How those narrow-minded restrictions were gradually eroded, though still not eliminated, to enable civil aviation to flourish is at the heart of this work. This book will be of direct interest to students of aviation, modern history, international relations and transport. It is also of value to airline industry professionals and government transport departments.

How was the European airline industry transformed from national fragmentation in 1957 to a point in 2006 where the European Commission could negotiate with the US for an Open Aviation Area on behalf of all twenty five members of the European Union? What can explain the change in mindset that saw conservatism and the tight regulation of the airline industry replaced with increased competitiveness and the subsequent rise of the low cost no-frills airline? In his new book, Alan P. Dobson draws from a mass of European documentation, including interviews with officials and airline executives and a unique collection of personal papers, to answer these questions. Dobson traces the liberalization of the airline industry from the 1970s right through to the present day, illustrating how integration came about and which forces were driving it. The approach is comprehensive, focusing on the work of the Commission, market forces, the voices of airline industry interests and on key individuals in the policy making process. The story concludes with an overview of the attempts by the EU and the US to create an Open Aviation Area that would embrace their respective airline industries allowing free operation of services throughout their territories and mutual ownership and control of each others airlines. This book is a key resource for students and researchers interested in aviation and international policy, as well as academics engaged with European integration, globalism and economic history.