This book offers a fresh analysis of how English nationalism—often obscured to preserve the unity of the United Kingdom and until recently, the Empire—has shaped Britain’s international relations from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. Drawing on extensive archival and published sources, this book traces the development of English national identity and its influence on major global conflicts, including the World Wars, the Cold War, the “war on terror,” and Brexit. It challenges conventional diplomatic histories by revealing how nationalism, race, and irrational forces have shaped foreign policy decisions. Engaging with key historiographical debates, the author exposes how historical narratives have often reinforced Englishness through selective use of official records. This original and accessible work appeal to scholars and students of British and international history, as well as readers interested in nationalism, diplomacy, and the making of modern Britain.

Robert Boyce taught International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) for over 37 years before retiring in 2016. He has been a visiting professor at the Université Paris V—Sorbonne and the Institut des Études Politiques in Paris, and taught at the University of Toronto and the Sciences Po in Dijon. He has published two major monographs and over 50 single-authored articles and book chapters as well as editing four books.