12 July 2004

A timely look at US UK relations

Photo opportunity 5.45pm, Monday 12 July, West Park Conference Centre, Perth Road, Dundee.

The Institute for Transatlantic European and American Studies (ITEAS) at the University of Dundee is hosting its international conference this week (12th-15th July) with some keynote speakers commenting on UK and US relations in the wake of the Iraq war.

Professor John Dumbrell from the University of Leicester will say that Tony Blair has not handled the UK's "special relationship" with the US very well and that he has been too supportive of Washington, asking for nothing from the Americans in return. He will also say that British priorities will in the future be rooted in Europe rather than the US in a seminar at the conference.

120 delegates from the UK, US and Canada, Europe, Hong Kong Egypt will come to Dundee for the annual meeting which will also be attended by respected international affairs journalist Godfrey Hodgson who launched the Transatlantic Studies institute in Dundee last year.

At a very interesting and critical time in US UK relations, the delegates will be assessing the history of the US, UK relationship, issues such as the rhetoric throughout the Iraq conflict and our relationships with Europe.

Liana Lewis from Nottingham Trent University will be looking at refugee children and the experience of racism in an English School while Klaus Larres from the Royal Holloway University of London looks at the difference between US and European perceptions of world affairs.

The conference, hosted and chaired by Professor Alan Dobson from the University of Dundee's politics department will take place from 12th-15th July in the West Park Conference Centre at the University of Dundee and is sponsored by NATO, Baylor University Texas, the British Academy, the University of Dundee and the Dundee and Angus Tourist Board.

By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk