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這齣80年代的英國電視幽默劇的情節，完全是今次脫歐公投的寫照！
1980年代英國電視幽默劇《Yes Minister》此刻被翻炒，正好讓大家回顧一下英國外交政策，作為註腳。
身為海島國家，英國需要提防來自歐洲大陸的威脅。面對法國、西班牙等領先強國、向陸地的擴張難以紥根。故此，英國外交政策的目標是保持歐洲大陸均勢，以防出現區域霸主。合縱連橫、交結盟友的考量很現實，純粹根據利害關係，不論宗教、膚色、私怨及意識形態。與此同時，英國抓緊與海外殖民地與自治領的關係，以作帝國「獨立自主」的根本。
長久以來，英國抽身歐洲事務，很少主動簽署永久盟約、各時代的短暫盟約均是面對區域霸權的權宜之計，有「光榮孤立」（Splendid isolation）之稱。由19世紀踏入20世紀，民族國家如德意志及義大利誕生，終結中歐政治真空；政治權力，亦開始向國家層面集中。
面對新興國家挑戰，英國難以繼續坐收漁人之利，孤立不再「光榮」。英日同盟（1902年－1923年），正是英國再次投入搏奕棋盤的第一步棋。
1961年起，英國三次申請加入歐洲共同體（歐盟前身），其中兩次被戴高樂阻攔。1973年，英國成功加入。1975年，英國公投決定是否脱歐，終被否決。43年後，在歐債、難民問題之際，英國公投退出歐盟這個超國家組織，拒絕繼續上繳國家權力，向一體化嘗試投了反對一票。民眾公投作出的決定，到底是否出乎棋手意料之外，抑或是時辰已到？
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Hacker: After 500 years has Britain's policy on Europe changed?
Sir Humphrey: Minister, Britain has had the same foreign policy objective for at least the last five hundred years: to create a disunited Europe. In that cause we have fought with the Dutch against the Spanish, with the Germans against the French, with the French and Italians against the Germans, and with the French against the Germans and Italians. Divide and rule, you see. Why should we change now, when it's worked so well?
Hacker: That's all ancient history, surely?
Sir Humphrey: Yes, and current policy. We 'had' to break the whole thing [the EEC] up, so we had to get inside. We tried to break it up from the outside, but that wouldn't work. Now that we're inside we can make a complete pig's breakfast of the whole thing: set the Germans against the French, the French against the Italians, the Italians against the Dutch... The Foreign Office is terribly pleased; it's just like old times.
Hacker: But surely we're all committed to the European ideal?
Sir Humphrey: [chuckles] Really, Minister.
Hacker: If not, why are we pushing for an increase in the membership?
Sir Humphrey: Well, for the same reason. It's just like the United Nations, in fact; the more members it has, the more arguments it can stir up, the more futile and impotent it becomes.
Hacker: What appalling cynicism.
Sir Humphrey: Yes... We call it diplomacy, Minister.
https://www.facebook.com/WatershedHK/videos/296427294025379/
身為海島國家，英國需要提防來自歐洲大陸的威脅。面對法國、西班牙等領先強國、向陸地的擴張難以紥根。故此，英國外交政策的目標是保持歐洲大陸均勢，以防出現區域霸主。合縱連橫、交結盟友的考量很現實，純粹根據利害關係，不論宗教、膚色、私怨及意識形態。與此同時，英國抓緊與海外殖民地與自治領的關係，以作帝國「獨立自主」的根本。
長久以來，英國抽身歐洲事務，很少主動簽署永久盟約、各時代的短暫盟約均是面對區域霸權的權宜之計，有「光榮孤立」（Splendid isolation）之稱。由19世紀踏入20世紀，民族國家如德意志及義大利誕生，終結中歐政治真空；政治權力，亦開始向國家層面集中。
面對新興國家挑戰，英國難以繼續坐收漁人之利，孤立不再「光榮」。英日同盟（1902年－1923年），正是英國再次投入搏奕棋盤的第一步棋。
1961年起，英國三次申請加入歐洲共同體（歐盟前身），其中兩次被戴高樂阻攔。1973年，英國成功加入。1975年，英國公投決定是否脱歐，終被否決。43年後，在歐債、難民問題之際，英國公投退出歐盟這個超國家組織，拒絕繼續上繳國家權力，向一體化嘗試投了反對一票。民眾公投作出的決定，到底是否出乎棋手意料之外，抑或是時辰已到？
－－－－－
Hacker: After 500 years has Britain's policy on Europe changed?
Sir Humphrey: Minister, Britain has had the same foreign policy objective for at least the last five hundred years: to create a disunited Europe. In that cause we have fought with the Dutch against the Spanish, with the Germans against the French, with the French and Italians against the Germans, and with the French against the Germans and Italians. Divide and rule, you see. Why should we change now, when it's worked so well?
Hacker: That's all ancient history, surely?
Sir Humphrey: Yes, and current policy. We 'had' to break the whole thing [the EEC] up, so we had to get inside. We tried to break it up from the outside, but that wouldn't work. Now that we're inside we can make a complete pig's breakfast of the whole thing: set the Germans against the French, the French against the Italians, the Italians against the Dutch... The Foreign Office is terribly pleased; it's just like old times.
Hacker: But surely we're all committed to the European ideal?
Sir Humphrey: [chuckles] Really, Minister.
Hacker: If not, why are we pushing for an increase in the membership?
Sir Humphrey: Well, for the same reason. It's just like the United Nations, in fact; the more members it has, the more arguments it can stir up, the more futile and impotent it becomes.
Hacker: What appalling cynicism.
Sir Humphrey: Yes... We call it diplomacy, Minister.
https://www.facebook.com/WatershedHK/videos/296427294025379/
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