1. British Foreign Relations

2. History after WWII
As Adolf Hitler and Nazism showed off their aggressive momentum in Europe, Chamberlain, the Prime Minister, found his policy of appeasement of German aggression was no longer tenable, and was forced to declare war on Germany on September 3,1939.

3. . Postwar Britain
　(1) One of the most far-reaching consequences of the War was that it hastened the end of Britain’s empire.
　(2) In 1952 Princess Elizabeth was crowned Queen Elizabeth II. Many people through television saw the ceremony.

4. End of Imperialism
On the one hand, the British could no longer afford to maintain its empire; while Britain had won the war, it had paid a terrible price in terms of lives and in terms of economic destruction. On the other hand, the British realized that countries should be granted the independence and left to run their own affairs. People and territory should not just be treated as a source of economic resources for the ruling centers of commerce in Europe.

5. Foundations of Foreign Policy
1. Imperial History
Historians argue that the British foreign policy-makers retain very conservative and traditional views of Britain’s role as a world power with many major foreign policy decisions as examples.

6. 2. Geopolitical traits
Britain is an island state, and this is considered to be an important psychological factor as well as one has influenced Britain’s economic and military development. Because it is an island, Britain quite naturally developed as a nation of seafarers who roamed the globe looking for territory and economic opportunities.

7. Britain and International Institutions
Britain is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations security Council, along with Russia, China, the US and France. It also is the sixth largest contributor to the UN’s budget. As a Security Council member, Britain retains the ability to have a large influence on world affairs.

12. Brexit and Bremain
The UK is now a member of EU. However, it has always been less enthusiastic about giving up its national sovereignty (that is, its control over national decision-making) to a European government. The UK likes to think of the EU as a place where economic cooperation is possible, with the free movement of goods and people.

13. The United Kingdom (UK) intends to withdraw from the European Union  (EU), a process commonly known as Brexit, as a result of aJune 2016 referendum in which 51.9% voted to leave the EU. The separation process is complex, causing political and economic changes for the UK and other countries. As of August 2016, neither the timetable nor the terms for withdrawal have been established: in the meantime, the UK remains a full member of the European Union. The term "Brexit" is a portmanteau of the words "British" and "exit".

14. In 2012, Prime Minister David Cameron
 rejected calls for a referendum on the UK's EU membership, but suggested the possibility of a future referendum to gauge public support. According to the BBC, "The prime minister acknowledged the need to ensure the UK's position within the European Union had 'the full-hearted support of the British people' but they needed to show 'tactical and strategic patience'."

15. Under pressure from many of his MPs and from the rise of UKIP, in January 2013, Cameron announced that a Conservative government would hold an in–out referendum on EU membership before the end of 2017, on a renegotiated package, if elected in 2015.

16. The Conservative Party unexpectedly won the 2015 general election with a majority. Soon afterwards theEuropean Union Referendum Act 2015 was introduced into Parliament to enable the referendum. Despite being in favour of remaining in a reformed European Union himself, Cameron announced that Conservative Ministers and MPs were free to campaign in favour of remaining in the EU or leaving it, according to their conscience. This decision came after mounting pressure for a free vote for ministers. In an exception to the usual rule of cabinet collective responsibility, Cameron allowed cabinet ministers to campaign publicly for EU withdrawal.

17. The result was announced on the morning of 24 June: 52% voted in favour of leaving the European Union and 48% voted in favour of remaining a member of the European Union.

18. Results by region (left) and by local council district (right) (Blue: Leave; Yellow: remain)

19. Political effects
The political scene in the UK went through substantial change and shock after the referendum. After the result was declared, Cameron announced that he would resign by October. In the event, he stood down on 13 July, with Theresa May becoming Prime Minister. .

20. Within hours of the result's announcement, a petition calling for a second referendum to be held in the event that a result was secured with less than 60% of the vote and on a turnout of less than 75% attracted tens of thousands of signatures. The petition had actually been started before the referendum by someone favouring an exit from the EU.It attracted more than four million signatures, meaning it was considered for debate in Parliament.