Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Start the answer by briefly mentioning the goals of British Foregin policy.
• Discuss the major reasons conflicts due to British Foreign Policy
• Conclude Suitably.

Introduction

British Foregin Policy was aimed at British expansion and territorial conquests outside India’s natural frontiers. These imperialist tendencies clashed with other european imperialist powers, which resulted in conflicts.

Body

Reasons of Conflicts due to British Foreign Policy

• There were many factors that impelled the Government of India to reach out for natural, geographical frontiers for internal cohesion and defence. For example,
  
  • Political and administrative consolidation of the country;
  • Introduction of modern means of communication;
  • These factors sometimes resulted in border clashes.
• The British Government had as its major aims in Asia and Africa:
  
  • Protection of the invaluable Indian empire;
  • Expansion of British commercial and economic interests;
  • Keeping other European imperialist powers, whose colonial interests came in conflict with those of the British, at an arm’s length in Asia and Africa.

Conclusion

British foreign policy interests dragged British India into conflicts, While the interests served were British, the money spent and the blood shed was Indian.