The 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US and the subsequent intervention in Iraq have brought the debate about Anglo-American relations beyond academic circles and into the public domain. But that’s just the latest facet of the ‘Special Relationship’: a term coined by Winston Churchill as long ago as 1946. This textbook introduces the origins and distinctive features of the Special Relationship, the justifications for its continuing importance in contemporary international relations and the disputes about its authenticity. It features innovative structure that mixes thematic, chronological and regional approaches to give a full picture of Anglo-American approaches. Split into 3 parts: ‘Elements of specialness’, ‘Cold War Anglo-American relations’ and ‘Post-Cold War Anglo-American relations’. Useful features for students include timelines, a glossary and recommendations for further reading. It introduces the history, controversies and contemporary relevance of the US-UK Special Relationship.