Balfour and Foreign Policy
The International Thought of a Conservative Statesman

The first full analysis of the international thought of the British statesman A. J. Balfour (1848–1930).

Jason Tomes (Author)

9780521581189, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 February 1997

336 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.4 cm, 0.63 kg

"The author, who is favourable to Balfour as a statesman and as a man, has clearly delineated both his attitudes to foreign policy and the beliefs which underlay that policy. It is a masterful survey." Contemporary Review

This is a study of the foreign policy views of Arthur James Balfour (1848–1930), British Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, which examines his understanding of foreign relations, his perception of contemporary foreign and Imperial affairs, and his prescriptions for British policy. The book spans international thought, diplomatic history, and biography. Theory is, however, not divorced from practice, still less practice from people. In elucidating Balfour's mind, the author touches on most of the major issues of four decades of international history and some fundamental questions of international relations. Little attention has been paid hitherto to Balfour's political thought, but here he is shown as an intellectual with a deep and coherent philosophy, which led him to emphasise the importance of Anglo-American partnership in world affairs.

Introduction
1. Biographical survey
2. Race, progress, patriotism
3. Imperialism
4. Greater Britain
5. The Franco-Russian challenge
6. Germany and the War
7. Anglo-America
8. The Balfour Declaration
9. The Russian Revolution
10. The Far East
11. The League of Nations
12. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], British & Irish history [HBJD1]