Britain has experienced unprecedented changes in the 20th century。At the end bet365 offer 19th century，Britain is still the most powerful financial country in the world、Commercial and naval power，Strong pound supports global trading system，When the British Empire reached its largest territory, it occupied a quarter bet365 offer earth's land。Although some people were concerned about the continued existence bet365 offer British Empire at that time，But late-Victorian Britons still wanted to believe，Built on "Destiny"、The British Empire under the free market economic system and liberal constitutional system can continue to write its great chapter in the 20th century。However，100 years later, the British Empire no longer exists；The Royal Navy is only the size of a U.S. Navy squadron；The financial order created by the gold standard system is long gone，Today，People vs USD、The euro and the renminbi are much more dependent than the pound。As an industrial power，Britain was overtaken by the United States in 1890，Since then, it has been successively occupied by Germany、Exceeded by Japan and France，By the end bet365 offer 20th century, it had fallen to the same level as Italy。Meanwhile，Britain’s influence on international affairs is also declining - in the “three rings” of diplomacy advocated by Churchill，British Politics、Both economic and military influence continue to shrink，The effectiveness of its diplomacy increasingly depends on the situation、Opportunities and collaboration with other partners；The UK cannot even become one bet365 offer important manifestations bet365 offer globalization process - the main beneficiary bet365 offer European integration process。All of this highlights an important keynote in British diplomatic history in the 20th century - decline。

Comparison with other emerging powers，Britain inevitably declined in the 20th century。Nevertheless，A sense of proportion and balance should not be lost when evaluating this process，The gist is，Britain’s decline is relative、Graduality and Moderation，Cannot focus solely on the decline bet365 offer British economy，and extend its political decline to a period that was too early。

Must see，Despite the independence movement in the colonies、Economic and technological developments had already affected Britain before 1939，But the British leaders did not pay much attention to this at the time，They really became anxious about this after World War II。In the early 20th century，Britain has a strong desire to maintain the status quo (peace)，And willing to compromise，But that doesn’t mean it will give in to all challenges；Considering the island country’s location and import needs，Britain’s reliance on peace and foreign trade is natural，But this did not prevent it from participating in the war in 1914。Britain lost its manufacturing advantage before 1914，But it is still a leader in finance，Control 48% bet365 offer world’s shipping industry，And far surpasses Germany in this regard。Despite the severe challenges faced by the Royal Navy，But it still defeated its archrival Germany in the naval arms race。The establishment bet365 offer Anglo-Japanese Alliance and the Allied Powers Group has narrowed Britain’s diplomatic options，But considering the past situation-Britain has never been an all-powerful power，Joining the Allies and building dreadnoughts both showed Britain's adaptability and readiness for adventure。During the period 1900-1905，The international crisis caused by France and Russia led to changes in major British policies，In a daunting environment，Escalating tensions between Britain and Germany，Britain saw the need to protect the Allies，Started maritime obligations to France in 1912。These proved to be significant in the British declaration of war in 1914。Meanwhile，Britain successfully avoided formal alliance obligations，This allowed it to enjoy more freedom of action than other European powers in the severe international environment at the time。Therefore，Adjustments in British policy before the First World War should in no way be interpreted as being driven by fear and weak will。

thereafter，Even World War I was not entirely a disaster for Britain，During this period, Britain expanded a large army；Safeguarded national unity；While testing the mobilization ability bet365 offer British Empire, it also improved the efficiency bet365 offer government machinery。Of course，Britain must also pay the price。Compared to Britain’s biggest competitor in the 20th century, the United States，The war greatly reduced Britain’s ability to pay，Hit its financial status。The strong public enthusiasm for peace inspired by World War I，It also forces the UK to assume more obligations in the future。

Many historians believe that the real decline of Britain began between the two world wars。But in the early 1930s，Britain is still an important member bet365 offer great powers club，And have an advantage in some areas。Even the U.S. economy、Military and technology enabled it to establish a navy with strength surpassing that of Britain，It also has no desire or determination to challenge Britain。This point must be included in the discussion bet365 offer balance of power among the great powers at that time。In the following years，When Britain has to face several unprecedented situations、When countries with aggressive fascism and militarism，The fragility bet365 offer empire that never sets is revealed。World War II proved to be more damaging to Britain's national standing than World War I，It completely exposes the fact of Britain's relative decline。Britain has paid a lot，But in addition to the prestige brought by his heroic resistance to Germany in difficult times in 1940 and his contribution to shaping the post-war world together with the United States and the Soviet Union，It doesn’t actually gain much。Finally，The United States reaped most bet365 offer fruits bet365 offer war，Its maritime power easily surpasses that bet365 offer Royal Navy，The United States also successfully induced British leaders to believe that their role was to guide the emerging Anglo-Saxon giant along the right path，After all, the British are considered to have more experience in dealing with world affairs，And English-speaking countries are promoting the expansion of so-called liberal democracy，Shared interests in “resisting communism” and advocating free trade。In fact，Americans’ attitude towards handling relations between the two countries is extremely realistic，They are fully aware that they are engaged in colonialism、Big differences with the UK on trade preferences and European integration，Especially about the last point，The British have long worried that joining European integration would damage their value in the eyes of Washington，So staying out becomes a natural choice。

In the decades after World War II，The leaders of both parties in the UK have always insisted on the need to maintain Britain’s status as a world power，Therefore, even after losing India, he was unwilling to give up the idea of ​​empire for a long time。They have long relied on the prestige accumulated in the past to offset the shortcomings caused by the obvious and increasingly serious lack of material capabilities。Even then，Linking Britain to the future of Europe is still causing huge controversy in both government and opposition parties。Speak realistically，The United Kingdom is quite different from other countries on the European continent: its island geographical location、Its high dependence on world commerce and free trade (with France、Italy’s protectionism is very different)，It is based on the constitutional system bet365 offer unwritten constitution and strong nationalist sentiments as well as the pride and pride of being the victor bet365 offer two wars。All of this made it difficult for it to accept after World War II that it could not shape Europe according to its own vision。The result was widespread dissatisfaction in both the government and the public，Government policymakers have to waver between exaggerating the power Britain still wields and overestimating its decline，The pursuit bet365 offer so-called "influence beyond national strength"。In this case，Myths about the past played an extremely important role in British political life - the mainstay in shattering Louis XIV's dream of hegemony，The financial and economic giant that defeated Napoleon's empire，The defender of freedom who destroyed Wilhelm Germany and Hitler's Third Reich。But to say it politely，Britain defeated these opponents by relying on its allies，And some bet365 offer allies such as Russia、The role played by the United States is even greater than that bet365 offer United Kingdom。

History shows，Human beings often fail to learn lessons from past experiences correctly，Historical trajectory will inevitably lead to the difference between what is now and what was yesterday、The cycle is shown in the previous page。The same is true for Britain today, which is busy with Brexit under the dominance of populism。From "maintaining the status quo (of great power status)" at the beginning bet365 offer 20th century to seeking to "exercise influence beyond national strength" after World War II，And then to the current "no ideals and ambitions"，Britain seems to be heading to another extreme never seen in modern times，Facing self-marginalization、Localization and huge risk of further decline。But historically speaking，Britain’s future cannot and cannot ignore Europe，Its security depends on the balance of power in Europe and its own active policy toward Europe。Therefore a more realistic and balanced approach would be to acknowledge the country’s great past and its limitations，We must fully realize that it is not feasible to play the role of a great power beyond Europe，And the reality that Britain’s proud political structure and diplomatic skills have become increasingly mediocre。As a relatively wealthy person、A secure and stable middle power，Britain must accept that the greatness bet365 offer Victorian era is long gone，And through countries such as the European Union、Interaction within the framework of multilateral institutions such as the United Nations，Manage to maintain a different degree from other major powers、A delicately balanced partnership to achieve its own goals: to establish some kind of orderly and open world to safeguard British political and economic interests。The inspiration for British diplomacy in the 20th century may be as a famous British foreign policy scholar commented: "Britain should look forward rather than looking back...it should adjust its rhetoric and expectations of national life to On the basis of being consistent with its limited national capabilities and the huge constraints it faces in the international environment。”

　(The author is a professor bet365 offer School of History and Culture, Central China Normal University)