OCR Specification focus:
‘Response to crises: Korean War, Suez, the Falklands War, First Gulf War; decolonisation and changing attitudes to the Commonwealth.’
Britain’s post-war international role was challenged by crises, global realignments, and the decline of Empire. This subtopic explores how governments managed crises and decolonisation.
Post-War Crises and International Position
The Korean War (1950–1953)
Britain entered the Korean War as part of a United Nations coalition after North Korea invaded the South. British involvement was significant though secondary to US leadership.
Britain sent ground, naval, and air forces.
It underlined Britain’s commitment to collective security through the UN.
Showed Britain’s dependence on the USA for global influence.
Reinforced Britain’s claim to be a world power despite imperial decline.
Collective Security: A system where states act together, usually through an international body like the UN, to respond to threats and aggression.
The Korean conflict emphasised Britain’s willingness to act militarily but exposed limits of its resources compared to superpowers.
The Suez Crisis (1956)
The Suez Crisis marked a turning point in Britain’s world status. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal, threatening Western oil supplies.
Britain, alongside France and Israel, launched a military intervention.
The USA refused to support the operation, fearing escalation during the Cold War.
International condemnation, economic pressure, and lack of US backing forced a humiliating withdrawal.
Consequences:
Britain’s diminished role as a global power was exposed.
It reinforced dependency on the USA in international crises.
Damaged Britain’s prestige, especially in the Commonwealth and the wider world.
The Falklands War (1982)
The Falklands War was a brief but decisive conflict that temporarily revived Britain’s reputation for global reach.
Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in April 1982.
This map situates the UK task force’s long supply line from Ascension Island and the operational approaches to the Falklands. Labels and arrows clarify the challenge of range, refuelling, and tempo. It focuses on strategic movement rather than individual ground battles, matching syllabus breadth. Source
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher authorised a naval task force to reclaim the territory.
Britain achieved military success, regaining control by June 1982.
Impact:
Boosted Thatcher’s popularity and political authority at home.
Demonstrated Britain’s ability to project military power far from Europe.
Asserted commitment to defending overseas territories, reinforcing ties to remnants of empire.
Overseas Territories: Regions under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of Britain but not part of the United Kingdom itself.
The First Gulf War (1990–1991)
The invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in 1990 provoked an international response.
Britain joined a US-led coalition under UN authorisation.
A ground-operations overview of Operation Desert Storm, indicating corps-level axes of advance, boundary lines, and the envelopment that unhinged Iraqi forces. The symbology concisely shows the coalition order of battle and objectives. It includes coalition unit badges not required by the syllabus but useful for recognising participating forces. Source
Provided troops, aircraft, and naval forces in the liberation of Kuwait.
Reinforced Britain’s “special relationship” with the USA.
Reflected Britain’s continuing role as a key NATO and UN power.
The war confirmed that Britain’s world role depended on multilateral action with the US and international organisations.
Decolonisation and the Commonwealth
The Process of Decolonisation
After 1945, Britain faced increasing demands for independence across its empire. Economic weakness and rising nationalist movements hastened decolonisation.
Key stages:
India achieved independence in 1947, inspiring other colonies.
African independence movements accelerated during the 1950s and 1960s.
By the 1970s, most colonies had become independent states.
Decolonisation was shaped by:
Pressure from the USA and international opinion, especially the UN.
The impracticality of maintaining imperial control.
Britain’s economic difficulties and desire to reduce overseas commitments.
The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth of Nations became the framework for Britain’s post-imperial relationships.
Brought together independent states, many formerly under British rule.
Promoted political, economic, and cultural cooperation.
Provided Britain with continuing influence, especially in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
Commonwealth: A voluntary association of independent states, mostly former British colonies, that cooperate in political, economic, and cultural matters.
However, Britain’s influence was uneven:
Some states looked increasingly to other powers.
Britain’s role was tested by disputes over apartheid in South Africa and other issues.
The organisation allowed Britain to maintain symbolic global leadership without the burdens of empire.
Changing Attitudes to Empire
From the 1950s onwards, British attitudes to empire shifted:
Acceptance that imperial control was unsustainable.
Focus turned to Europe and the USA as key partners.
The Commonwealth became a substitute for direct colonial power, reflecting a transition to a post-imperial identity.
Overall Significance of Crises and Decolonisation
The Korean War and Gulf War highlighted Britain’s reliance on collective international action.
The Suez Crisis showed the collapse of Britain’s ability to act independently on the world stage.
The Falklands War temporarily revived imperial confidence but did not reverse long-term decline.
Decolonisation transformed Britain into a post-imperial power, with the Commonwealth as its new global network.
FAQ
The Suez Crisis strained relations between Britain and the United States. President Eisenhower’s administration refused to back Britain’s military intervention and applied economic pressure, including threats to sell US reserves of sterling. This forced Britain to withdraw, demonstrating its reliance on American support.
The victory in the Falklands War boosted Thatcher’s popularity, which had been low due to economic difficulties and unemployment.
It reinforced her image as a strong leader willing to defend British interests.
The success contributed significantly to the Conservative Party’s landslide victory in the 1983 general election.
The United Nations authorised the use of force after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. This gave international legitimacy to coalition action.
The UN Security Council passed Resolution 678, permitting “all necessary means” to expel Iraqi forces.
Britain’s involvement was framed as multilateral action, reflecting its preference for working through international bodies after Suez.
Decolonisation reduced Britain’s need to station large forces across the Empire.
Troops were withdrawn from many colonies as they achieved independence.
Britain began to prioritise commitments within NATO and Europe over global garrisons.
This shift reflected both economic pressures and recognition that global imperial policing was no longer sustainable.
The Commonwealth provided Britain with a means of maintaining global influence without formal imperial control.
It offered economic and cultural connections across former colonies.
It acted as a forum for cooperation and dialogue, giving Britain a symbolic leadership role.
Membership allowed Britain to sustain ties with regions such as Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean at a time when its global power was visibly declining.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
In which year did Argentina invade the Falkland Islands, and which British Prime Minister led the response?
Mark scheme:
1 mark for identifying the correct year: 1982.
1 mark for identifying the correct Prime Minister: Margaret Thatcher.
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain two consequences of the Suez Crisis of 1956 for Britain’s international position.
Mark scheme:
Up to 3 marks for each well-explained consequence, with examples.
Indicative points:
Britain’s global prestige suffered (1 mark) because it was forced to withdraw under US and international pressure (1 mark) showing dependency on the USA (1 mark).
Britain’s influence within the Commonwealth declined (1 mark) since many states condemned the intervention (1 mark), which undermined its leadership claims (1 mark).
Maximum 6 marks in total.
