Appeasement

Appeasement – the cornerstone of Britain′s foreign policy in the decade leading up to World War II – was widely praised in its own time for avoiding the catastrophe of war, but since 1939 has been almost universally condemned. This book seeks to understand the reasons for these contrasting assessments. The author examines appeasement in the context of both Britain′s domestic policies and her international commitments, within Europe and beyond. In this fully revised edition, Professor Robbins extends coverage to include an updated discussion of the historiography surrounding appeasement, and detailed analysis of changing public opinion and of the "appeasers" themselves. His book continues to be the ideal introduction to this much–studied topic of twentieth century history.

1. Historiography. 2. Policy and Party Politics. 3. Public Opinion: War and Peace. 4. Appeasers. 5. Economic Appeasement. 6. Appeasement and Power. 7. Appeasement in Action. 8. Conclusion. References. Guide to Further Reading. Index.

Keith Robbins is Vice–Chancellor of the University of Wales, Lampeter.