Abstract

The essay reconstructs the transatlantic dynamics and internal dialectics within the European Union from an analysis of the impact of 9/11 events on Britain and the role played by Tony Blair’s government in the complex juncture between the invasion of Afghanistan and the difficult postwar period in Iraq. Blair’s attempt to combine the «effective multilateralism» already pioneered during the Clinton presidency and the Bush administration’s «pre-emptive war» theory lead to the questioning of his leadership of the country and of the Labour Party in the long run, as well as his pro-European vision at a time when the Union was being measured by major political and institutional reforms and an attempt to redefine itself as a significant player in international relations.