The British Empire has greatly benefited Britain's position within the World today?

Answer 1

Though Britain was forced to give up its Imperial nature during WWII (it was part of the agreement between US & UK, before the US would officially enter the war) for the most part its former territories have provided a benefit for Britain.

Canada, Australia, India, South Africa, and Hong Kong (before its turn over back to China in '96) though no longer controlled by Britain, still provide the UK with the ability to establish strong economic relations with each other and in some cases, indirectly with other countries.

The US has established political and economic relationships with these countries, but the UK has a considerable advantage because it shares a stronger link to them through the long history of the old British Empire.

It is this historical link that gives Great Britain a hidden strength that most fail to see. Here in the US most like to think that we're a "superpower" and the UK is a small country and needs our help if something big threatens the British. Fact of the matter is that the UK is more like a "Secret Superpower" it appears to others as a small country (just a pair of big islands off the coast of Europe) so it doesn't present a big military threat.

This has worked well for Britain because it's less threatening appearance allows for better diplomatic relations with other countries. The US is huge in size and military strength compared to the UK and diplomatic relationships are harder to establish since we are always seen a threat.

If it needed to the UK could probably call apon the members of the "Old Empire" (at least Canada and Australia) for military muscle for some kind of offensive and they would most likely honor request out of "loyalty to the Crown" and the long shared history.

Answer 2

Come on! Wake Up! Britain (the country) DOES NOT HAVE the empire it once used to. Although it is only a small island, it still dominates many places in the world. From Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antartica, British Indian Ocean, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gilbraltar. Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia/Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, to a Sovereign Base (Akrotiri and Dhekelia).
Japan LOST all of its empire after 1945. Japan even lost the Kuril Islands to Russia! To say it has an empire today is just a wet dream. In Asia today we talk about Japan-U.S. relations and China-U.S. relations. Sorry, but when we omit Britain we ignore the fifth largest economy in the world, and the second largest economy in Europe. We are very stupid to do so.
Yes, England often appears in every major football tournament, and won the World Cup in 1966. Japan has never won a World Cup, it did host the 2002 World Cup with Korea, but it did rather poorly in the 2006 World Cup. But really, a football match is no true measure of a country, is it? Wake Up!

Answer 3

Yes it did, whether or not one thinks that imperialism was a good thing. Even if one thinks imperialism is bad, one cannot escape the fact that many of the countries in the Empire benefited greatly.

Britain also benefited greatly, of course. Even if Britain has only a fraction of the status it once held, the very fact that it did have great status at one point makes a difference, and makes Britain's a voice to be heard (despite whether people choose to listen).

Answer 4

The Empire may have brought some benefits to the colonies, but the Empire is no longer, and the UK running after the USA government is demeaning. It negates all benefits remaining from the days of the Empire.

Answer 5

Come on! Wake up! British is NOT an empire anymore. It is only a small island. Japanese is an empire dominating the world. In the asia, we are talking about Japanese-American relationship, Chinese-American relationship. British, sorry, is not mentioned at all. Or except that it always said that it is a favourite in every major football tournament and it lost every time. Learn from the German, the worst represented teams were still be finalists and semi-finalists of the World Cup. Wake UP!

Answer 6

With some exceptions of excess... generally the British Empire was good for the countries involved.

Railroads in India and Pakistan, bridges and roads ect. We got involved and put in serious infrastructure. A bit like the Romans.

Compare it the the USA. The USA abroad have the mindset to build a fortress and sit in it, and just come out to police and control about.

Answer 7

all the countries benefited from the British empire least of all India they all know we built up their countries and we still have respect from all around the world for just that

Answer 8

definitly the British Empire was rich at one piont it had over 25% of world GDP. without the British Empire Britain would not be as rich or as well respected internationally.

Answer 9

Is this a British thing, a pride thing? Why who cares, arent we all in this together? Who cares what so ever we are not benefitting by all the political stradegies, our cupboards are bare and the paychecks are dismil and the key barely fits in the door anymore. Alice in Wonderland has awoken and it is all a bunch of fantasy.
A bad dream. And some of us were not ever asleep we are just waiting for all to awaken. The Sleeper Must Awaken.

Answer 10

And much of the world has greatly profited from the British empire ,as much as they complain that they haven't