Why did Britain abandon its policy of 'Splendid Isolation'?

Why did Britain abandon its policy of 'Splendid Isolation'?

What was 'Splendid Isolation'?

• It was a term coined in the Canadian parliament by George Foster, who said 'the great Mother Empire stands splendidly isolated in Europe'.
• It became synonymous with the foreign policy of Lord Salisbury between 1886 and 1902. 
• It was Britain's policy of avoiding committing itself to specific alliances with other powers. 

Why had Britain followed the policy of 'Splendid Isolation' in the past? 

• She was keen to avoid foreign military alliances as she them as potential problems. 
• Britian remained isolated from Europe in order to concentrate on expanding her navy and her empire. 
• It was assumed that Britain was so powerful that alliances were unnecessary. 

Why did Britain abandon the policy of 'Splendid Isolation'?

• Britain was concerned about the Far East, because the combined fleets of Russia and France (who had been allies since 1894) outnumbered British fleet's there and Russia's imperial ambitions…