Politics

Britain Alone: The Path from Suez to Brexit

Britain Alone: The Path from Suez to Brexit

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  • Create Date：2021-04-15 14:53:17
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
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  • Author：Philip Stephens
  • ISBN：0571341772
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Summary

A magisterial and profoundly perceptive survey of Britain's post-war role on the global stage， from Suez to Brexit。

'Admirably lucid and measured， as well as studded with sharp pen portraits of the key players， Britain Alone gives us the fullest long-run political and diplomatic narrative yet of Britain's fateful， tragi-comic road to Brexit。'
DAVID KYNASTON

'Philip Stephens has produced that rare thing - an instant classic。 Britain Alone is the codebook we need to unravel the six and a half decades between Suez and Brexit， and Stephens is a master of historical codebreaking。'
PETER HENNESSY

How might we celebrate Britain's undoubted strengths while accepting that we have slipped from the top table？ How can we act as a great nation while no longer pretending to be a great power？ How might we be European and global？

In 1962 the American statesman Dean Acheson famously charged that Britain had lost an empire and failed to find a new role。 Nearly sixty years later the rebuke rings true again。 Britain's postwar search for its place in the world has vexed prime ministers and government since the nation's great victory in 1945: the cost of winning the war was giving up the empire。

After the humiliation of Anthony Eden's Suez expedition， Britain seemed for a time to have found an answer。 Clinging to its self-image as a great island nation， it would serve as America's best friend while acknowledging its geography by signing up to membership of the European Union。 Never a comfortable balancing act， for forty years it appeared to work。 In 2016 David Cameron called the Brexit referendum and blew it up。

Award-winning journalist Philip Stephens paints a fascinating portrait of a nation struggling to reconcile its waning power with past glory。 Drawing on decades of personal contact and interviews with senior politicians and diplomats in Britain， the United States and across the capitals of Europe， Britain Alone is a vivid account of a proud nation struggling to admit it is no longer a great power。 It is an indispensable guide to how we arrived at the state we are in。

'Compelling， informative and readable 。 。 。 offers much-needed substance。'
FINANCIAL TIMES

'Fascinating。'
IRISH TIMES
'Commanding。'
SCOTSMAN

 'A magnificent， exhilarating book， laying bare the contradictions， misunderstandings and delusions that led Britain first to build a bridge across the Channel and then bulldoze it 。 。 。 The book is much more than Brexit。'
PROSPECT

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Reviews

Roger Cobcroft ，

This book traces the path of Britain's involvement with Europe from the Suez crisis of 1956 to Brexit in 2016。 While few of the facts are new， it is interesting to see how British governments grappled over time with the relationship with Europe。 The author focusses on each British Prime Minister of the period。 This makes the book very readable， as it does not bog down in the details of treaties and trade arrangements。The authors argument is that the British did not feel they needed Europe at the This book traces the path of Britain's involvement with Europe from the Suez crisis of 1956 to Brexit in 2016。 While few of the facts are new， it is interesting to see how British governments grappled over time with the relationship with Europe。 The author focusses on each British Prime Minister of the period。 This makes the book very readable， as it does not bog down in the details of treaties and trade arrangements。The authors argument is that the British did not feel they needed Europe at the end of the Second World War。 By the time they realised that they needed to be part of the EEC， France and Germany had already set the path。 A highly readable account and a very good overview of the relationship。 。。。more

Jim Reynolds ，

Indispensable。 Utterly essential reading for anybody too young to remember the most of the second half of the 20th century。 The FT's Philip Stephens does a fantastic job of tying the last 70 years around a single narrative of Britain trying to find its place in the world post-empire。 A lot just 'clicked' after reading this。 Indispensable。 Utterly essential reading for anybody too young to remember the most of the second half of the 20th century。 The FT's Philip Stephens does a fantastic job of tying the last 70 years around a single narrative of Britain trying to find its place in the world post-empire。 A lot just 'clicked' after reading this。 。。。more

Nisso Bucay ，

Best history of Britain post-WW IIStephens explains in a clear and interesting way Britain’s dilemma between an Atlantic relationship with America or a closer integration with Europe until it broke at the worst possible moment when globalization is going in retreat。 So well written I felt the urge to highlight whole sections of the book。

Derek Henderson ，

The early chapters are the most interesting。 The later stuff is entirely secondhand for anyone who was alive at the time。

Angie ，

Very interesting history of Britain， what led to Brexit， and what happens now。Enlightening in many ways to those of us who didn't see it coming。 Depressing for me to see how are vote will lead to Britain being more insular and play a far less important role on the world stage。 Maybe the people who voted for this are happy to be a smaller， weaker and poorer country ， serving more important countries。 The vote to make Britain great and a world leader will probably do the opposite。This book covers Very interesting history of Britain， what led to Brexit， and what happens now。Enlightening in many ways to those of us who didn't see it coming。 Depressing for me to see how are vote will lead to Britain being more insular and play a far less important role on the world stage。 Maybe the people who voted for this are happy to be a smaller， weaker and poorer country ， serving more important countries。 The vote to make Britain great and a world leader will probably do the opposite。This book covers a lot of ground but doesn't get too bogged down in detail to make it hard work to read。 As someone who doesn't have a deep interest in political history I found it nteresting and informative。 。。。more

Patrick G Cox ，

Excoriating view of the political mythology of BrexitFor those of us who have lived through the events described in this book （admittedly I was schoolboy in 1956 during the Suez crisis）， and can recall the news reports， the posturing of the PMs who presided over the governments of this period， it is a fascinating read。 There are some shocking revelations of missteps by the political leaders， and confirmation of aspects many of us have long suspected。 The description of the relationships between Excoriating view of the political mythology of BrexitFor those of us who have lived through the events described in this book （admittedly I was schoolboy in 1956 during the Suez crisis）， and can recall the news reports， the posturing of the PMs who presided over the governments of this period， it is a fascinating read。 There are some shocking revelations of missteps by the political leaders， and confirmation of aspects many of us have long suspected。 The description of the relationships between Washington DC and Westminster reminded this reader of the situation between the pretenses of the Western Roman Empire， with the Imperial court in Ravenna， fostering the image of still being at least as influential as Byzantium， by then the far more powerful body。The book sets out the desperate attempts to secure the UK’s place as a post-Empire power and world leader albeit in the shadow of the US。 Joining the EU was seen by MacMillan， Wilson and their successors as essential as it amplified Britain’s standing and brought the benefits of sharing a role in expanding the influence and trade of all of Europe。 The tragedy is that this was accompanied by a refusal by successive governments to acknowledge any benefit of membership， instead directing a constant stream of blame for domestic problems， or magnifying the perceived flaws。 Similarly there has been a reluctance to accept that the EU rules have been arrived at by arriving at carefully crafted compromises between the national interests of all the members， instead objecting to compromise， or demanding special exemptions。 It is a very informative book， well researched， and well written。 A must read for those interested in understanding how we have gone from an leading and influential member of a unique political and mercantile experiment in human history， to ejecting ourselves and now standing on the outside blaming our former fellow members。 。。。more

Bucky ，

Clear analysis and measured eloquence， but with little to inspire hope for the future， Philip Stephens’ ‘Britain Alone’ is as likely to inspire pessimism in those who agree with his conclusions as it is to be dismissed by those who disagree。 Stephens provides an interesting and meaningful， if inherently politicised， historical analysis of Britain’s place between the United States and Europe， and with it its struggle for influence and purpose， since 1956。 For the full review， see here: https://bu Clear analysis and measured eloquence， but with little to inspire hope for the future， Philip Stephens’ ‘Britain Alone’ is as likely to inspire pessimism in those who agree with his conclusions as it is to be dismissed by those who disagree。 Stephens provides an interesting and meaningful， if inherently politicised， historical analysis of Britain’s place between the United States and Europe， and with it its struggle for influence and purpose， since 1956。 For the full review， see here: https://buckysbookreviews。com/2021/03。。。 。。。more

Bryan ，

A survey of Britain's relationship with the US and the EU from the Suez crisis of 1956 （when Britain's attempt to revive its great power status was knocked on the head by the United States） until the UK's exit from the EU last year。 The author focuses on Britain's policies of being both the US's closest ally （or most docile poodle， depending on your viewpoint） and a member of the EU， and using the country's position in each case to strengthen its position in the other。 Of the two policies， the E A survey of Britain's relationship with the US and the EU from the Suez crisis of 1956 （when Britain's attempt to revive its great power status was knocked on the head by the United States） until the UK's exit from the EU last year。 The author focuses on Britain's policies of being both the US's closest ally （or most docile poodle， depending on your viewpoint） and a member of the EU， and using the country's position in each case to strengthen its position in the other。 Of the two policies， the European has always been by far the more fraught， with Britain having long had a troubled relationship with the EU。 This troubled relationship arises from Britain's history as the centre of an empire， a history difficult to reconcile with being the mere equal member of an international organisation that presumes to overrule domestic laws and is well charted by Stephens。 The relationship with the US has， in many ways， been no easier， with Britain desperate to the point of embarrassment to be seen as the US's closest ally。 Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in the case of Britain's nuclear weapons which she has chosen to tie so closely to the US that surely no-one really believes they are truly independent。 Indeed， one of the strongest contrasts to emerge from this book is that between Britain's surly resentment of the trespasses on its independence by the EU with its willing abandon of its independence to the US。The author is well versed in the history， politics and personalities and writes a truly entertaining narrative that fairly speeds along。 Well worth a read。 。。。more

Philippe Shoosmith ，

An insightful history lessonA factual look back at the UK’s history explaining why we’ve ended up where we are。 A perceptive， non-judgemental insight as to how this crisis was inevitable as all factors aligned to provide the perfect backdrop for chaos。

Steve ，

This review also appears on my blog with many others at: https://livemanylives。wordpress。com/It is fascinating to look back， in the light of Britain’s referendum vote to leave the European Union， at the decades of self-delusion that framed the country’s initial relationship with the continent and ultimately led it to its current isolation。 This is what Philip Stephens does in Britain Alone， drawing upon his own experience as a journalist and the many international politicians and diplomats that This review also appears on my blog with many others at: https://livemanylives。wordpress。com/It is fascinating to look back， in the light of Britain’s referendum vote to leave the European Union， at the decades of self-delusion that framed the country’s initial relationship with the continent and ultimately led it to its current isolation。 This is what Philip Stephens does in Britain Alone， drawing upon his own experience as a journalist and the many international politicians and diplomats that he has met as a result。Ultimately it is a story of decline， as the Empire of old disintegrated after the Second World War and the country’s politicians caught in their nostalgia failed to see both the threats and opportunities of the new world。 It was defined by “…the unwillingness of the ruling classes fully to own up to the central fact of Britain’s post-war place in the world – that it was a European rather than a global power”。 “Britain had been trapped by its history” and alas it continues to be。The parallels between the last 75 years of British foreign policy history and the current situation as the country leaves the EU are both striking and demoralising。 The return to empty rhetoric of Britain taking its place as a global nation， which fails entirely to recognise that the world has moved on。 Once again we fail to take ownership of our reality， preferring to wallow in the ruins of Empire and British exceptionalism， and rile against common sense and reason as “talking Britain down”。Despite the inevitable frustration for anyone reading the book who has a European outlook， it remains a fascinating insight into the struggles of the country post-war。 Stephens has a remarkable knowledge of the politics surrounding Britain’s place in the world and its interactions with the US and Europe。 He is able to draw upon the accounts of those “in the room” as history was negotiated and terms were determined and provides a comprehensive understanding of a country striving for a bold new identity but unable to grasp it。Stephens improved my knowledge of the personalities and motivations of the different leaders， their relationships to each other and global events。 Some， like MacMillan， I had known very little about。 One or two were shrouded in legend， such as JFK， whilst others were shaped by their satirical Spitting Image puppet caricatures that I had grown up with， like Thatcher， Reagan and Gorbachev。 All were humanised by the deep analysis and commentary of their diaries， advisors and officials。 Even Blair’s move to war in Iraq felt better understood， if no more palatable。Of course， the path towards Brexit was set right at the start。 By joining the party late too many of the terms had already been fixed without us， and this position was only firmed up by the subsequent leaders， their uncertainty about the country’s role and changing political imperatives at home and abroad。 The balancing act between domestic policy and politics and engagement with the wider world， whatever the party of power， provided depth to my understanding of individual actions and the subsequent ripples that shaped the approach of both the Conservatives and Labour in the last four years。Ultimately， whatever side of the Brexit debate we sat on， we have to move at some stage to what happens next。 The screech of the zealot that would “rather eat grass than give up sovereignty”， whilst a fallacy on both counts as the first is clearly untenable and the second is impractical in a world where interaction with not just countries but also powerful global corporations and oligarchs is unavoidable， at least contains an acceptance that Brexit means a diminution of Britain。So， the question becomes what does a post-Brexit Britain look like？ Are there niche areas in which it can succeed？ What level of reduction in living standards is genuinely acceptable to its inhabitants？ Can that be achieved without access to the European Single Market， or do we need to start a whole load of other work on how we regain access？ Does Britain even survive in its current form？The tendency at the moment is to batten down the hatches in existing highly charged camps and it is hard to see how that can end in any way but badly for us all， but the zealots currently have the reins of power so hope is in short supply。 At some point we are going to have to go against 75 years of history and have a grown up conversation about what this country really stands for， but it’s hard to do that when democratic pillars are being dismantled and the country’s assets distributed amongst cronies。 What will be left when we finally wake up from our decades of delusion with no choice but to face the real world and our place in it？*I recommend this book to absolutely anyone with any interest in understanding the path that led us to Brexit。 It doesn’t mater what your views on our current situation are， it is important to understand the past so that we can also successfully chart a course for the future， a challenge that we will meet more successfully if we understand how we got here。 。。。more

Stephen ，

thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest reviewThis book looks at Britain in a post colonial viewpoint after WW2 and the lost of empire with different conflict of alliances whether to be closer to America or join forces with Europe and how this conflict of interests and Britain living in the past of Empire and not re adjusting to the new realities of the world。This conflict had effects on foreign policy economics as Britain delayed initially joining thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest reviewThis book looks at Britain in a post colonial viewpoint after WW2 and the lost of empire with different conflict of alliances whether to be closer to America or join forces with Europe and how this conflict of interests and Britain living in the past of Empire and not re adjusting to the new realities of the world。This conflict had effects on foreign policy economics as Britain delayed initially joining what became the EU （EEC） and relying on American heavily for a nuclear weapons as Britain lagged behind post WW2。 。。。more

Amanda ，

This book is an indispensable modern history of Britain and its "inflated ambition and diminished circumstances。" Author Philip Stephens， historian and political commentator， provides an overview of Britain's post-imperial international role from the failed Suez expedition in 1956 to Brexit。 The final chapters take us through the Brexit referendum and up to the start of the 2020 pandemic。Britain Alone has several threads running through it。 First， is Britain's self image as an independent mariti This book is an indispensable modern history of Britain and its "inflated ambition and diminished circumstances。" Author Philip Stephens， historian and political commentator， provides an overview of Britain's post-imperial international role from the failed Suez expedition in 1956 to Brexit。 The final chapters take us through the Brexit referendum and up to the start of the 2020 pandemic。Britain Alone has several threads running through it。 First， is Britain's self image as an independent maritime nation with an exceptional place in the world as a "pocket power。" Britain's geography， its institutions， democracy， superior habits， parliamentary traditions， great empire and victory in WWII shaped a national consciousness that could not "surrender its mindset" in the face of reality。 Although not a full history of colonialism， this book provides a useful overview of Britain's relationship with former colonies， the Commonwealth and with Ireland。 Its relationship with the EU is often at odds with prioritising its relationship with the Commonwealth。 I believe in the lead up to Brexit I remember the relationship as being described as having been thrown under the bus for Brussels。 The Commonwealth had its own system of trading preferences and although trade rights have the potential to be a tedious read， it was a good look at how Eurosceptics can consider themselves to be globally minded without EU membership。 As de Gaulle observed "England in effect is insular， she is maritime， she is linked through her exchanges， her markets， her supply lines to the most diverse and often the most distant countries。"The second is the UK's vacillating relationship with the United States。 Should it be America's best friend and prioritise their 'special relationship？' Or should Britain serve as an intermediary between the United States and continental Europe？ Britain still sees itself as part of the big three， seated at negotiating table with the United States and the Soviet Union。 Throughout the book， the United States looks to its national interests first， while Britain trades its dignity for attention， financial aid and assistance with its hugely expensive nuclear programme。 The United States admittedly agonised over supporting Britain as a colonial power in hopes or providing international stability， or supporting independence for countries （"anti-imperialist moralism"） that might then celebrate this newly found freedom by choosing Soviet authoritarianism。 Aside from its special relationship with the United States， Britain also sees itself as separate from continental Europe through its relationships with the Anglosphere。 Phillips here describes the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing pact between Canada， Australia， New Zealand， the US and the UK。 Depending on the Prime Minister at the time， Britain was either Atlanticist or European。 With each government afraid to make a decision， cracks were described as showing in "the majestic ramparts of British self-confidence。" When discussing sending a delegation to the 1955 Messina， Sicily conference in a lead up to further European integration， the UK replied that it was "a devilish awkward place to expect a minister to get to。" The superiority！ They would pay for opting out later。The third theme， and most unexpected， was an overview of Britain's nuclear weapons programme which is "central to British illusions。" So much of Britain's international prestige and self-image is wrapped up continuing the Trident programme， even to the detriment of the rest of the armed forces， especially the Navy。 In the meanwhile， successive cabinets neglected cybersecurity and had little clear policy direction over China and North Korea。 The book's information on Britain's history and relationship with Hong Kong would be especially timely to read now。 Studious viewers of The Crown might enjoy reading through the history of the post-war decades and the intimate， almost fly on the wall， stories of the leading figures of each decade。 I knew almost nothing about the Heath Government and my knowledge of Britain in the 1970s was only based on opinions I had heard of the later Thatcher years。 It's painful to read about the bills of empire， the cost of supporting overseas armed forces， the NHS and public sector pay while Britain's economic power and STEM fields were falling behind France and Germany。 I could not easily detect the author's political leanings。 After reading this book I liked some politicians less than before and some politicians more than before。 Few paragraphs are dedicated to the immigration debate and that is a relief。 So much has been said on the Brexit outcome in terms of immigration that an outsider might think that was the only cause。 There are historical factors such as Britain's view of itself as an independent island nation， and also the more recent causes such as stagnant wages， austerity after the GFC， the rise of casual work and uneven economic development。 Phillips does summarise cultural identities， domestic economic security， UKIP and the backlash to rising immigration。 Today， all political tribes recognise that immigration rates from former communist countries greatly exceeded expectations but the debate rests in culture clashes and who deserves access to the welfare state。 The final chapters show how nobody before the vote "had grasped the seismic scale of the decision to quit the European Union。" Examining the impact of that decision on England's relationship with the rest of the UK leads to questions over whether this is actually "England alone。" I do wonder if the English who voted to leave might argue that it was partly the result of long term， unfettered "London alone" policy。Britain Alone should be required reading for anyone wishing to understand Britain's modern history and the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum。 I would recommend reading it after the excellent Churchill， Walking with Destiny biography by Andrew Roberts 。 This book was provided by the publisher for review。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Britain Alone: The Path from Suez to Brexit

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Britain Alone: The Path from Suez to Brexit&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Britain Alone: The Path from Suez to Brexit&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0