The policy of appeasement refers to the diplomatic strategy employed by certain countries, such as Britain and France, in the 1930s to avoid conflict with aggressive nations. It involved giving in to the demands of these aggressive nations in hopes of maintaining peace.
The policy of appeasement is most closely associated with the European diplomatic strategies in the 1930s, particularly those of Britain and France towards Nazi Germany. Key figures such as British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain sought to prevent another catastrophic conflict after World War I by conceding to some of Adolf Hitler's demands, including allowing Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia following the Munich Agreement of 1938.
The policy of appeasement is widely criticized for emboldening Hitler and failing to prevent World War II. Its failure demonstrated that aggressive dictatorships could not be placated through concessions. The term now generally conveys a negative implication about negotiating with aggressive powers and has influenced subsequent foreign policies, making leaders more wary of making concessions to potential aggressors. It underscores a pivotal lesson about the importance of confronting threats early on, shaping international relations theory and practice.