International relations

I. Pay attention to the to the pronunciation of the following words.

dismantle [dIs`m@ntl] – разрушать

unilaterally [ju:nI`l@t({)relI] – односторонне

missile [`mIsaIl] – ракетный

embarrassment [Im`b@r{sment] –смущение; замешательство; смятение

cease [ si:s] – прекращать; останавливать;

приостанавливать

commitments [k{`mItment] – обязательство

regiment [`redZ(I)ment] – полк

merge [m{:dZ] – сливать, соединять

ambiguous [@m`bIgju{s] – двусмысленный

sheer [SI{] – абсолютный; полнейший

resentment [rI`zentment] – негодование; возмущение

sovereignty [`sOvr({)ntI] – суверенитет

bureaucracy [bju({)`rOkr{sI] – бюрократия; бюрократизм

poll [p{ul] – подсчет голосов; голосование

animosity [,@nI`mOsItI ] – враждебность; злоба; вражда

savage [`s@vIdZ ] – дикий; варварский

cautious [`kO:S{s] – осторожный, осмотрительный

II. Read the text

The relationship between any country and the rest of the world can reveal a great deal about that country.

The end of empire

The real dismantling of the empire took place in the twenty-five years following the Second World War and with the loss of empire went a loss of power and status. These days, Britain's armed forces can no longer act unilaterally, without reference to the international community. Two events illustrate this. First, Suez. In 1956, Egypt, without prior agreement, took over the Suez Canal from the international company owned by Britain and France. British and French military action to stop this was a diplomatic disaster. The USA did not support them and their troops were forced to withdraw. Second, Cyprus. When this country left the British empire, Britain became one of the guarantors of its independence from any other country. However, when Turkey invaded the island in 1974, British military activity was restricted to airlifting the personnel of its military base there to safety.

After the Second World War and throughout the 1950s, it was understood that a conference of the world's great powers involved the USA, the Soviet Union and Britain. However, in 1962, the Cuban missile crisis, one of the greatest threats to global peace since the war, was resolved without reference to Britain. By the 1970s it was generally accepted that a 'superpower' conference involved only the USA and the Soviet Union

Despite Britain's loss of power and status on the world stage, some small remnants of the empire remain. Whatever their racial origins, the inhabitants of Gibraltar, St Helena, the Ascension Islands, the Falklands/Malvinas and Belize have all wished to continue with the imperial arrangement (they are afraid of being swallowed up by their nearest neighbours). For British governments, on the one hand this is a source of pride, but on the other hand it causes embarrassment and irritation: pride, because it suggests how beneficial the British imperial administration must have been; embarrassment, because the possession of colonial territories does not fit with the image of a modern democratic state; and irritation because it costs the British taxpayer money.