Sujet 2 - Partie 2 · Bac Anglais, monde contemporain Métropole remplacement 2024

Partie 2 (4 pts)

Document A

Queen Elizabeth II epitomised Britain's soft power

Like the monarchy itself, Queen Elizabeth II, who adorned the throne of Great Britain for over 70 years as the country's longest ever serving monarch, became an institution herself. Indeed, very few people across the globe will remember a period in time when she was not the Queen of the United Kingdom.

The continuity she brought, uniting Britain, particularly, over generations and eras and the ease with which she interacted with leaders and common people across the globe is what made her the epitome and ultimate symbol of Britain's soft power. [...]

It is this longevity that made the Queen unique. She appointed 15 British prime ministers as head of that Constitutional monarchy, she saw and interacted with 14 Presidents of the United States, from President Dwight D. Eisenhower to Joe Biden and she presided over a Great Britain which lost much of its greatness as most of its erstwhile colonies became independent and threw off the colonial yoke. 1

Yet the 'Maharani' 2 managed to cobble together the former colonies into a "Commonwealth," which now comprises 54 nations. [...]

India, which also threw off the yoke of colonial authority under her Father's tenure as King, voluntarily chose to be a part of the Commonwealth and has found it a useful international forum. Queen Elizabeth [...] was a bridge between the first leaders of an India which had just gained independence from British rule and the present leadership.

India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru attended her coronation in 1953 and, when she visited India in 1961, India's first President, Rajendra Prasad, was her host. When Queen Elizabeth last presided over the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in 2018, she hosted and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. [...]

Although she never apologised to India for the extreme excesses of the British Empire, [...] she made efforts to portray Britain's most benignant 3 face and concern not just toward Indians and India, but most of the 120 countries she visited. [...]

Robin Oakley in Foreign Policy best summed up Queen Elizabeth II's era, saying she "may be best remembered as a leader who provided a model of constancy in a rapidly shifting world. She was admired by monarchists and republicans alike for her unswerving devotion to duty."

India News Stream, September 9, 2022

1 A yoke ( un joug) symbolises oppression.

2 Indian word for princess. Here, Queen Elizabeth II.

3 gentle

Document B

President Biden and King Charles' marriage of convenience

On the way to a NATO summit in Lithuania, President Joe Biden today made a quick stopover in England for tea with King Charles III — and an unusual discussion of policy.

Biden's first bilateral reception with Charles since he ascended the throne last September was devoted to a dialogue on environmental issues that included a joint briefing from Britain's Energy Secretary Grant Shapps and U.S. special climate envoy John Kerry on trans-Atlantic attempts to "accelerate the deployment of literally trillions of dollars" of climate change investment, according to Kerry.

Historically, visits between U.S. presidents and English monarchy have been more ceremonial than policy-oriented. [...]

In 2021, Biden told then-Prince Charles that "we need you badly" to help with climate targets at COP26. And on Sunday, before their meeting, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that Biden has long considered Charles a "clarion 1 voice" on climate issues.

To some degree, it is a marriage of convenience. While the official website for the British monarchy says that "The Sovereign no longer has a political or executive role," Charles isn't about to pause his lifelong work of advocating for sustainability just because he's finally on the throne. Meeting with the American president on the issue burnishes his credentials 2 on a matter he cares deeply about.

For Biden, the meeting offered an opportunity to showcase his commitment to climate issues just as his reelection campaign starts cranking — and his team has decided that investment in green technology is a winning issue.

The two were determined enough to establish a new kind of relationship that they broke protocol in other ways as well. When Biden met Charles at Windsor Castle earlier today, he patted the king on the back — a gesture that violates royal norms, though one that's commonplace for the often physically affectionate Biden. [...]

Responding to the contact, a source inside Buckingham Palace said, "His Majesty the King is entirely comfortable with that kind of contact — and what a wonderful symbol of warmth and affection it was between both the individuals and their nations." [...]

It's too early to tell if the meeting will lead to any progress on climate or significant diplomatic promises to one another. Symbolism remains at the heart of Biden and Charles' meeting today.

Politico [US edition], July 10, 2023

1 loud and clear

2 ici: renforce sa crédibilité

Document C

Rendez compte des principales idées exprimées dans le document A, en français et de manière structurée. (100-120 mots)

Nombre de mots: