The 1917 Balfour Declaration remains one of the most controversial policy statements of the wartime British Government. Historically it has been praised as the highest diplomatic act of the First World War that helped...The 1917 Balfour Declaration remains one of the most controversial policy statements of the wartime British Government. Historically it has been praised as the highest diplomatic act of the First World War that helped restore a home for the Jewish people in Palestine. Its critics point out that it planted seeds of future discord between the Palestinians and Israelis. There are also historians who suggest that what Britain really wanted was to secure vital geostrategic interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. The reality is that the process and decision making leading up to the Balfour Declaration was very complicated. This paper will focus on the role and influence of Britain＇s Prime Minister David Lloyd George whose leadership and personal drive made a difference in securing the Anglo-Zionist Alliance. By looking at the theories on the role of individuals on policy making and testing them on the case of Lloyd George, it will be demonstrated that, in spite of certain arguments to the contrary, leaders with right strength of personality, determination, strong beliefs, interest in foreign policy, and the right placement in the state bureaucracy can make a huge impact. These elements, combined with shifting attitude of British policymakers toward the imperial burdens during the early twentieth century, and rising influence of national movements enabled Britain to not only secure a vital strategic outpost in Palestine, but also restore therein a homeland for the Jews.展开更多
文摘The 1917 Balfour Declaration remains one of the most controversial policy statements of the wartime British Government. Historically it has been praised as the highest diplomatic act of the First World War that helped restore a home for the Jewish people in Palestine. Its critics point out that it planted seeds of future discord between the Palestinians and Israelis. There are also historians who suggest that what Britain really wanted was to secure vital geostrategic interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. The reality is that the process and decision making leading up to the Balfour Declaration was very complicated. This paper will focus on the role and influence of Britain＇s Prime Minister David Lloyd George whose leadership and personal drive made a difference in securing the Anglo-Zionist Alliance. By looking at the theories on the role of individuals on policy making and testing them on the case of Lloyd George, it will be demonstrated that, in spite of certain arguments to the contrary, leaders with right strength of personality, determination, strong beliefs, interest in foreign policy, and the right placement in the state bureaucracy can make a huge impact. These elements, combined with shifting attitude of British policymakers toward the imperial burdens during the early twentieth century, and rising influence of national movements enabled Britain to not only secure a vital strategic outpost in Palestine, but also restore therein a homeland for the Jews.
