Appeasement refers to the diplomatic strategy of giving in to the demands of an aggressive nation in order to avoid conflict. It is often done with the hope that by satisfying their demands, further aggression can be prevented.
Appeasement is most notably associated with the diplomatic strategy employed by Britain and France in the lead-up to World War II, particularly in the 1930s. During this period, leaders like British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain sought to prevent conflict by making concessions to aggressive powers like Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler. The policy was epitomized by the Munich Agreement of 1938, which allowed Germany to annex portions of Czechoslovakia.
The policy of appeasement is widely regarded as a failure in containing fascist aggression and ultimately emboldened Hitler's expansionist aims. It demonstrated the dangers of compromising with dictatorial regimes and is often cited as a cautionary tale in international relations. The term "appeasement" has since become synonymous with the idea of sacrificing principles to avoid conflict, contributing significantly to the debate on how to confront aggressive states.