This is the fourteenth contribution to Scarecrow's Historical Dictionaries of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations series begun in 2006 and only the second volume to cover the foreign policy of a specific country. To date the series has focussed on aspects of American foreign policy, especially bilateral relations with other states or regions. China is the only other country to have been given individual treatment (Sutter, 2011) (RR 2012/060), but it is important to note that Britain's relationship with the US was covered in the tenth volume of the series Historical Dictionary of Anglo-American Relations (Ellis, 2009) (RR 2009/359). Author Peter Neville is a British academic, currently a research associate at the University of Westminster. He has published widely on British and European history, especially on the British policy of appeasement in the run-up to the Second World War.
In format this volume follows the standard Scarecrow Press historical dictionary pattern of a series Editor's Foreword, an Acronym and Abbreviations listing, a Chronology, an Introduction, the main Dictionary sequence, appendices and a Bibliography. As is generally the case, there is no index and we are fortunately spared the grainy illustrations and poor quality maps which frequently diminish other Scarecrow historical dictionaries. The chronological coverage of British foreign policy stretches back, not as one might expect to the Acts of Union between England and Scotland finalised in 1707, but to the establishment of the Foreign office in 1782. However, while there is coverage of nineteenth century British diplomacy, the focus is very much on the twentieth century with the period since the end of the Second World War receiving the most detailed treatment. Altogether the book claims 600 plus entries in the Dictionary sequence, spread across just over 300 pages. Giving an average of two per page, this provides entries that are generally longer than those in many other Scarecrow historical dictionaries. Cross-referencing is by the standard emboldening of entry headings in the text, plus occasional see also links in capitals at the end of entries. The Chronology preceding the Introduction reflects the focus on the post Second World War period, about half its pages charting events since 1945 and ending with the expulsion of Syrian diplomats from the UK on 29 May 2012. The Introduction, running to a long 22 pages, is divided into a number of chronological sections such as The 19 Century Pax Britannica, British Diplomacy Between the Wars and Britain and the Cold War. Only two appendices are provided, one a List of British Prime Ministers and Foreign Secretaries and the other a List of Permanent Undersecretaries at the Foreign Office. Although the Chronology provides useful factual detail to support the Dictionary entries, one is left feeling that the reference value of the volume could have been enhanced if further appendices, for example a list of major treaties or British memberships of international organizations, had been provided.
Of course, it is the Dictionary sequence and, to a lesser extent the Bibliography, not the supporting appendices and other matter, by which any Scarecrow historical dictionary must primarily be assessed. With its relatively long entries the Dictionary is reasonably in-depth in its treatment of the subjects covered. Probably as many as half of all entries are for people, most of them British but with some foreign names included, for example Acheson, Mugabe and Pompidou. Many of these entries are surprisingly detailed, Churchill for example gets well over two pages and most post-war British Prime Ministers and Foreign Secretaries get a page or more. Other British notables covered include diplomats, such as Sir Oliver Franks, ambassador to the United States 1948-1952, and prominent politicians. Somewhat curiously, George Osborne, current Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has not played a particularly prominent role in foreign policy, is afforded over two pages, an entry similar in length to that for current Foreign Secretary William Hague. Another substantial category of entries is for countries. These are especially lengthy; United States has thirteen pages, Germany eight and Italy five and a half. Australia and Egypt have over three pages and, reflecting recent conflicts, Argentina and Afghanistan both have over two. The remaining entries are for a vast range of events, topics and organizations. These tend to be shorter, examples including Atlantic Charter (1941) at half a page, Cuban Missile Crisis at just over a page, Three Circles Doctrine at half a page and Wilton Park (a Foreign and Commonwealth Office conference centre) at ten lines. Reflecting the volume's focus on current foreign policy, one of the longest non-country entries is that for Terrorism which runs to four pages and is mainly concerned with events post 2001, but does also cover the Middle East and the activities of the Irish Republican Army.
Compared with the Dictionary the Bibliography is somewhat disappointing. In length it seems relatively short for the book's page count at slightly under 20 pages and the vast amount of literature available on the topic. To be fair, Neville recognises the extent of the literature and does provide a useful narrative introduction describing some of the key works listed in the five main chronological sections by which the Bibliography is arranged. Coverage seems to be mainly for books with some journal articles but no websites or other material. Leafing through the citations the reviewer was struck by the relative absence of recent publications. There are very few citations for books or articles produced in the last five years. Even the final section, British Foreign Policy Since the End of the Cold war lists nothing with a publication date more recent than 2007. One has the distinct impression that the Bibliography was either prepared some time before the book was completed or that the various chronologically based listings it contains were compiled for some other purpose and are re-used here for convenience.
While in a slightly critical mode, the editorial sloppiness of the text must receive a passing mention. There are numerous minor slip-ups such as the annoying entry heading “Defense, Ministry of”, rather than with the correct British spelling of Defence, plus several simple errors, for example giving the dates of tenure of The Duke of Grafton as Prime Minister in the eighteenth century as “1968-1770”. These errors though, do seem very much the result of poor editing. No factual errors in the content were found and coverage, apart from the already mentioned slant towards post-1945 foreign policy, seems balanced and well selected. Perhaps Britain's relations with the European Union, currently the number one foreign policy issue in the UK, could have been given greater prominence (the entry European Union is only just over one page, although there are related entries such as two pages on the Eurozone), but as the European issue also intrudes into domestic politics it is understandable why Neville has given it relatively restrained treatment. As it stands, this book is a useful and up to date contribution to the reference literature on British foreign relations. It belongs in any library where modern British history or politics is studied. It could also have a place in a general reference library where there is a need for a factual backdrop to other works on Britain's relationship with the wider world.
