Includes bibliographical references (pages 191-201) and index.

Acknowledgements. Maps. Abbreviations. Chronology. Who's Who. Glossary. 1: The Rise and Fall of the British Empire: 1496-1945 The Birth of the British Empire. Workshop of the World. Scramble for Africa. The challenge of Empire. The impact of war. The interwar years. Total war. 2: The Early Post-War Years: 1945-1955 The post-war settlement. Pressures for reform. World War to Cold War. Tension and conflict. Choices and decisions. European questions. The end of Empire. Reviewing the balance sheet. 3: The Limitations of Power: 1955-1970 The 1956 Suez Crisis. Searching for a role. Economic challenges and world visions. The nuclear option. Trimming the sales. Winds of change. Reluctantly European. The first application. The second application. 4: Finding a Way: 1970-79 Changing fortunes. Joining Europe. Adapting to new realities. Eurosclerosis. Renegotiation and referendum. Challenges and turmoil. 5: Resurgence: 1979-90 Economic restructuring. Empire legacies. The Falklands factor. Cold-War warrior. European diplomacy. Grappling with Europe. On the sidelines of Europe. 6: Post-Cold War Order: 1990-1997 New World Order. Britain and the Gulf War. The hour of Europe. Maastricht mutiny. European disunity. 7: Transformed World: 1997-2013 Ethics and intervention. Doctrine of the international community. New world disorder. European visions. Euro crisis. 8: Assessment Reviewing the balance sheet. The European conundrum. The future direction of British foreign policy. Documents

"A study of modern British foreign policy focusing on the period from 1945 to the present day. Includes a chronology of key events, a list of important government figures and a collection of relevant primary sources"-- Provided by publisher.