Difference between revisions of "Appeasement"
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==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''appesen'', from Anglo-French ''apeser'', ''apaiser'', from a- (from ''Latin'' ''ad''-) + ''pais'' [[peace]] | [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''appesen'', from Anglo-French ''apeser'', ''apaiser'', from a- (from ''Latin'' ''ad''-) + ''pais'' [[peace]] | ||
| − | *[ | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century] |
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
*1: to bring to a state of [[peace]] or [[quiet]] : calm | *1: to bring to a state of [[peace]] or [[quiet]] : calm | ||
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*3: pacify, [[conciliate]]; especially : to buy off (an [[aggressor]]) by [[concessions]] usually at the [[sacrifice]] of [[principles]] | *3: pacify, [[conciliate]]; especially : to buy off (an [[aggressor]]) by [[concessions]] usually at the [[sacrifice]] of [[principles]] | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | '''Appeasement''' is a [[diplomatic]] [[policy]] aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to an aggressor. Historian [ | + | '''Appeasement''' is a [[diplomatic]] [[policy]] aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to an aggressor. Historian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Kennedy Paul Kennedy] defines it as "the policy of settling international quarrels by admitting and [[satisfying]] grievances through rational [[negotiation]] and [[compromise]], thereby avoiding the resort to an armed [[conflict]] which would be expensive, bloody, and possibly dangerous." Kennedy's definition has been widely cited by scholars. Appeasement was used by European democracies in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1930's 1930s] who wished to avoid war with the [[dictatorships]] of Germany and Italy, bearing in mind the horrors of [[World War I]]. |
| − | The term is most often applied to the foreign policy of the British Prime Minister [ | + | The term is most often applied to the foreign policy of the British Prime Minister [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain] towards [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany Nazi Germany] between 1937 and 1939. His policies of avoiding war with Germany have been the subject of intense [[debate]] for seventy years among [[academics]], politicians and [[diplomats]]. The historians' assessments have ranged from [[condemnation]] for allowing [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler Adolf Hitler]'s Germany to grow too strong, to the [[judgement]] that he had no alternative and acted in Britain's best interests. At the time, these concessions were widely seen as positive, and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Pact Munich Pact] concluded on 30 September 1938 among Germany, Britain, France and Italy prompted Chamberlain to announce that he had secured "peace for our time". |
| − | The word "appeasement" has been used as a synonym for [[weakness]] and even [[cowardice]] since the late 1930s, and it is still used in that sense to denounce [[policies]] and [[behaviors]] that conflict with firm, often armed, [[action]] to [[violent]] threats in international relations.[ | + | The word "appeasement" has been used as a synonym for [[weakness]] and even [[cowardice]] since the late 1930s, and it is still used in that sense to denounce [[policies]] and [[behaviors]] that conflict with firm, often armed, [[action]] to [[violent]] threats in international relations.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeasement] |
[[Category: History]] | [[Category: History]] | ||
[[Category: Politics]] | [[Category: Politics]] | ||
[[Category: Political Science]] | [[Category: Political Science]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:41, 12 December 2020
Origin
Middle English appesen, from Anglo-French apeser, apaiser, from a- (from Latin ad-) + pais peace
Definitions
- 1: to bring to a state of peace or quiet : calm
- 2: to cause to subside : allay <appeased my hunger>
- 3: pacify, conciliate; especially : to buy off (an aggressor) by concessions usually at the sacrifice of principles
Description
Appeasement is a diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to an aggressor. Historian Paul Kennedy defines it as "the policy of settling international quarrels by admitting and satisfying grievances through rational negotiation and compromise, thereby avoiding the resort to an armed conflict which would be expensive, bloody, and possibly dangerous." Kennedy's definition has been widely cited by scholars. Appeasement was used by European democracies in the 1930s who wished to avoid war with the dictatorships of Germany and Italy, bearing in mind the horrors of World War I.
The term is most often applied to the foreign policy of the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain towards Nazi Germany between 1937 and 1939. His policies of avoiding war with Germany have been the subject of intense debate for seventy years among academics, politicians and diplomats. The historians' assessments have ranged from condemnation for allowing Adolf Hitler's Germany to grow too strong, to the judgement that he had no alternative and acted in Britain's best interests. At the time, these concessions were widely seen as positive, and the Munich Pact concluded on 30 September 1938 among Germany, Britain, France and Italy prompted Chamberlain to announce that he had secured "peace for our time".
The word "appeasement" has been used as a synonym for weakness and even cowardice since the late 1930s, and it is still used in that sense to denounce policies and behaviors that conflict with firm, often armed, action to violent threats in international relations.[1]
