Splendid isolation
Splendid isolation (literally translated: "wonderful isolation") is the visualization and the use of the geographical island position of the United Kingdom in its foreign policy in the late 19th century until the outbreak of the First World War with the main aim of maintaining the European balance of power . In particular, it denotes the times under the two Prime Ministers Benjamin Disraeli and Robert Gascoyne-Cecil .
The term splendid isolation was coined by the Canadian politician George Eulas Foster , who first used the phrase on January 16, 1896 in the Canadian House of Commons :
"In these somewhat troublesome days when the great Mother Empire stands splendidly isolated in Europe."
"In those somewhat uncomfortable days when the great mother kingdom in Europe is wonderfully isolated."
On January 22, 1896, the term splendid isolation appeared as a headline in The Times newspaper . On February 5, 1896, the Canadian opposition leader Wilfrid Laurier also used this phrase in the House of Commons. The term became popular after George Goschen used it as First Lord of the Admiralty in a speech on February 26, 1896:
"We have stood here alone in what is called isolation - our splendid isolation, as one of our colonial friends was good enough to call it."
"We stood here alone in what is known as isolation - our wonderful isolation, as one of our colonial friends was good enough to call it."
Characteristic of the splendid isolation was an extreme reluctance to participate in permanent alliances or other obligations towards other world powers while at the same time expanding the overseas colonies , protectorates and dependent areas. For centuries one was practically invulnerable and tried to interfere as little as possible on the mainland, or if so, then as a superordinate arbitrator. In addition, the United Kingdom wanted to defend its colonies , as the country lived largely from trade. The sea route to India was particularly important.
The splendid isolation was ended by the Anglo-Japanese alliance in 1902 and in particular the Entente cordiale with France in 1904. The alliance with France, initially designed only to resolve colonial issues, formed the basis for the Triple Entente alliance system that was created in 1907 between the United Kingdom, France and Russia.
The British newspaper The Guardian took up the concept of splendid isolation in an article on 9 December 2011 about the UK's failure to join the planned European fiscal union .
Individual evidence
- ^ "Term used to describe Britain's diplomatic isolation and attitude towards foreign policy before the outbreak of the First World War." World War One Glossary . BBC Schools Online; Retrieved December 10, 2011.
- ^ John W. Wheeler-Bennett: A Wreath to Clio: Studies in British, American and German Affairs. Palgrave Macmillan, London 1967, ISBN 978-1-349-81663-7 , p. 22.
- ↑ George Eulas Foster quoted from Elizabeth Knowles (ed.): The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations . University Press, Oxford 1999, ISBN 0-19-860173-5 , pp. 544 .
- ↑ Elizabeth Knowles (Ed.): The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. University Press, Oxford 1999, ISBN 0-19-860173-5 , p. 544.
- ↑ George Goschen quoted from Nigel Rees: Mark my words: great quotations and the stories behind them . Barnes & Noble, New York City 2002, ISBN 978-0-7607-3532-9 , pp. 243 .
- ↑ The European question: will it be splendid isolation or miserable? guardian.co.uk, December 9, 2011.