"The twentieth century posed great challenges for British foreign policy. How effectively did policymakers cope with change and decline? Were they as pragmatic as they claimed? Are there identifiable patterns of success and failure?". "Peter Mangold seeks to answer these questions in this new thematic account of British foreign policy between 1900 and 2000. Issues covered include imperial overstretch, the reluctance to engage militarily and politically with continental Europe, alliance management, the role of force, loss of Great Power status, and Britain's impact on the international system. The final chapter considers prospects for the twenty-first century."--BOOK JACKET.