The Franco-British Relations from Hostility to Entente 1815-1914

This article explains the transformation of the relationship between Britain and France from hereditary enemies to alliance partners in three stages. At first, the Franco-British couple has evolved tremendously in the long period between 1815 and 1914 from structural hostility to firm allies. The domestic political change and European international balance of power, as well as the world political evolution are analyzed for this one hundred year peace. The structural comparison is followed by more detailed and historical analysis. The period 1815-1870 forms a cycle. In 1815, France was militarily and politically defeated and has since then made a progressive comeback on international stage with the help and assistance of Britain until the Crimean War. But France was defeated again by Prussia in 1870. The second period of 1870-1914 resembles the preceding one in that France needed to recover her international status. Nevertheless the relations with Britain has been more turbulent because of the imperialistic rivalry such as planned by the German Chancellor Bismarck in order to deviate France from revenge against Germany. The long term transformation of the bilateral relationship between France and Britain has been influenced by the political regime of these two countries, their imperialistic rivalry on global scene, and the balance of power in European politics, especially in regard to the triangle France-Britain-Germany. France and Britain have been embroiled in imperial rivalry, but have finally elaborated a common front of liberal democracies against the emerging German power.