Britain's role in the Industrial Revolution supports it's stance as a world power. In the mid-18th century, Britain experienced a rapid expansion of manufacturing production, as well as technological innovation. Because of this shift from dependency on agriculture to production and markets, there was heavy pressure for democratization. Britain transformed and became the dominant power of the international order. This history suggests that Britain is a strong world power, just as the history of the British Empire does. Because Britain was engaging in overseas commerce, there grew a dependency on foreign markets, which in turn, fueled rapid British expansion across the globe. By 1870, British trade represent 1/4 of the total trade in the world, and the British Empire under Queen Victoria encompassed 1/4 of the world's population.
Britain, also, was the first nation to develop a securely functioning parliamentary democracy, which is still successfully in tact today. Britain had great influence over the democratization of the rest of the world because of it's extensive global empire. The idea (that we all know and love) that democracy rests on the supreme authority of the legislature is based upon fundamental British politics. How this legislature is embodied in the government is entirely up to the state, but the British parliament has been incredibly successful in the ruling of the UK. This leadership and innovation of democracy suggests that Britain is a top tier, functioning world power.
The decolonization of Britain's empire, however, defined the changing relationship to the world of states. During the twentieth century, Britain was no longer a "1st tier" power. The formal British Empire began to shrink during the interwar period of 1919 - 1939 as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand gained independence. Colonies in Asia, Middle East, and Africa pushed for independence during and after WWII. This empire dissolved in the 20 years after 1947, when India and Pakistan gained their formal independence. The dissolve of this powerful empire essentially refuted any claim Britain had on being a world power and top player in world politics.
To further support the claim that Britain is just 2nd tier, is the fact that Britain is second fiddle to the United States in their special relationship. In those desperate times after September 11, Tony Blair was quick to jump to the aid of the US, to support them in a war, which many of Britain's European neighbors did not support. Ties with the US created tension between ties with German and France as well as with the Middle East, and Britain faced high security risks by participating in the war. This weakness supports the idea that maybe Britain really has fallen behind many of it's European neighbors.
Though the strong British Empire of the 18th century challenges the isolationist ideas of Britain, there is historical evidence to suggest reasons why British government struggle with dealing with the EU. Britain is an island, and is surround by water, which, for years, cut the state off from it's European neighbors. Not only did this give them a sense of security, but it also provided a sense of individuality, an idea that "we can do it ourselves." Though Britain's heavy involvement in international trade of the 18th century might suggest otherwise, Britain was isolated from it's neighbors long before this trade emerged, giving time for ideas of isolation to become heavily ingrained in the state.
Many instances today support traditional British isolationist mindset. Britain has a very aloof relationship with the rest of Europe, allowing it to fall behind fast-paced European changes. While the rest of Europe agreed upon one currency, the Euro, Britain remained separate from this decision, keeping with the pound. There is, as well, a rift over the war in Iraq. While Britain has thrust itself into supporting the US, neighbors of the UK, such as Germany and France, are strongly opposed to the war. These isolationist tendency lean towards the conclusion that Britain is no longer the world power it once was.
