The Causes of the Breakup of the British Empire

Abstract

Before the twentieth century the British Empire was considered to be a superpower and the ruler of international political and economic life. However after the outbreak of the First World War there were obvious signs which foreshadowed the malfunctions of the Empire. [...] For the destruction of such a powerful regime more factors were necessary which had to appear nearly at the same time and they had to interact on each other and therefore they intensified each other. Considering the case of the British Empire five major causes should be listed, namely, the effects of the Second World War, the newly appeared colonial nationalist activities, the serious economic decline of the empire, the changing international political situation, and the domestic politics in Britain.