To what extent did the Principles governing British Foreign and Imperial Policies remain the same between 1856 and 1902?

Throughout the period 1856 to 1902, the principles governing foreign and Imperial Policy saw a great change in their detail as events in this time period unfolded, however the main aims of these principles stayed the same. An example of this can be seen in the foreign policy principle based on a fear of Russia and France that gradually changed over this time period into a fear of Germany instead. The detail changed, in particular who the fear was based on, but the principle, that of a fear of other powers threatening Britain’s position, stayed the same. What also must be acknowledged when looking into the change and continuity between these principles over the time period is that they are interconnected. Thus, with the main principles being divided into four main groupings: a fear of Russia and France, the need the maintain the balance of power in Europe, the desire to extend trade and Empire and support for constitutional states, change that affected the balance of power is also linked into the fear of Russia and France turning to a fear of Germany and how they came to threaten empire and trade and so on. This must be kept in mind when analyzing how far the principles remained the same.

This first Foreign and Imperial policy being based on a fear of Russia and France, did gradually change over the time period to be based more on a fear of Germany, however that is not to say that the fear of Russia and France had been totally removed. Britain found in France a colonial rival in events such as the Scramble for Africa, in particular the Fashoda incident, as they found an ally in them in the Crimean War. What is better to describe international relations at this time is being based on a more fluid, advantage orientated basis. Where British