Evolutionofthe Netherands foreign policy within europanism and atlanticism

The article examines the evolution of the Dutch foreign policy after the Second World War within the Europeanism andAtlanticism based on American and West European historical and political researches. The scientific originality is explained by theinsufficient study of this subject in Russia. The Netherlands, as a «small country», can act as a «middle state power» regarding its power andinfluence, on which future decisions will depend. The paper also briefly defines three main features of the Dutch foreign policy given by theDutch professor and politician Voorhoeve J. We can point out such as maritime mercantilism, neutralist abstentionism and internationalistidealism which are considered the priority principles before the Second World War. The post-war foreign policy of the Netherlands acquiresthree new constants of the development which include: 1) adherence of transatlantic interests in terms of foreign and security policy; 2)support for supranationalism regarding the European integration; 3) a traditional priority of economic integration over political one. Duringdifferent post-war periods the Netherlands foreign policy changed its direction, and it had Europeanism or Atlanticism attitudes. The Dutchcommitment to Atlanticism can be explained: firstly, the Unites States assistance in the Netherlands liberation from Nazi Germany in 1945,secondly, economic help concerning the Marshall plan, thirdly, the Dutch joining to NATO under the American supervision in 1949. In thiscase some researchers speak about so-called «aloofness in dependence» meaning that the Netherlands, participating in the Western blockwhere the one state takes a leaders position, are allowed to support «its own neutrality» in new conditions, and there is no necessity todevelop its own «ambitious foreign policy». If we discuss Europeanism attitude, it is necessary to point out a question on supranationalinstitutes in European structures. In the first turn, it concerned a disagreement one or some «big» states (first of all, France and Germany) todominate, as well as the importance of transatlantic cooperation within the common foreign and security policy. The key moment for theNetherlands is also economic cooperation, especially during the first periods of economic integration in Europe, when the Netherlands wereconsidered as a recipient-country. Thus, in the time after the Second World War the Netherlands being a «small power state» became animportant actor in the European integration and transatlantic partnership. However, the Dutch independency and so-called «aloofness independence» from other countries did not play into the hands of the Netherlands themselves.

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