This study focuses upon examining themes of appeasement and estrangement in Anglo-Japanese relations between 1902 and 1942. The thesis will cover the period of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902-23), the period following the Alliance prior to the Wall Street Crash (1923-29) and the decade following the Mukden Incident until the fall of Singapore (1931-1942).
Traditional historiography and political studies suggest that appeasement was a policy overwhelmingly directed at Germany during the 1930's, but Japan's actions and ambitions, dating as far back as the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 can be credited for beginning a snowball effect of British politicians turning a blind eye towards Japan's actions. This snowball of appeasement grew larger the increasingly estranged Britain and Japan were. Despite overwhelming pro-Japan feelings in British politics and society as late as 1938, when did relations between the two nations pass a point of no return?
I focus my research upon diplomatic history, particularly that of British exchanges with the Far East and Appeasement of Japan. This tends to narrow down upon the idea of Britain "appeasing" Japan both during the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and afterwards.
Other interests include reading and writing historical and science fiction. I am currently the President of Kingston University's Creative Writing Society (2019-Incumbent). I also play ice hockey for Imperial College (2013-ongoing), representing Kingston University in national and international tournaments. As a passive hobby, I enjoy growing citrus plants, chillies and home brewing mead.