An Analysis of The British Invasion of Egypt (1882) Through the Lens of VICTORIAN Party Politics

Abstract

The British occupation of Egypt in 1882 meant a breakaway from the Anglo-French entente’s control over Ottoman financial system and the end of the Liberal Government’s ‘reluctant’ imperialism. When the Liberal ministry began in 1880, the cabinet immediately focused on foreign policies towards the Ottoman Empire subsequent to Gladstone’s campaign during the Bulgarian Agitation which had already turned out to be a party question. The protection of the Suez Canal as well as the interests of the British bondholders and the prestige of the British Empire was vital, which united the Liberal ministry and the Conservatives under the same purpose.  Despite late Ottoman approval, the occupation signified the edge of Anglo-Ottoman alliance during the nineteenth century. This study will analyse why the Egyptian question is important for British party politics and to what extend the Anglo-Ottoman relations was affected with these circumstances.   Cite this article as : Yildizeli, Begum, “An Analysis of The British Invasion of Egypt (1882) Through the Lens of Viictorian Party Politics”, Turk J Hist, issue 69 (2019), p.113-134.