T. G. Otte is Senior Lecturer in Diplomatic History at the University of East Anglia. His recent publications include The China Question: Great Power Rivalry and British Isolation, 1894–1905 (2007), The Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 1854–1946 (with Keith Neilson, 2009) and Coalition Government in Britain: From Glorious Revolution to Cameron-Clegg (as editor, 2010).

• Introduction; 1. Illusions of supremacy: the Foreign Office mind, 1865–74; 2. The problems of isolation: the Foreign Office mind, 1874–85; 3. Problems of consolidation: the Foreign Office mind, 1885–92; 4. Two eastern questions: the Foreign Office mind and the period of flux in great power politics, 1892–1900; 5. The transformation of great power politics: the Edwardian Foreign Office mind, 1900–7; 6. The end of an era: the late-Edwardian Foreign Office mind, 1907–14; Conclusion.

'Otte opens up our understanding of the role of the diplomatic professionals in the long nineteenth century, keeping a careful balance in his analysis of the role of the professionals and that of their political masters. Meticulous in its scholarship, written with great clarity, this work demonstrates with ease a mastery of a complex and intricate subject.' Erik Goldstein, Boston University

T. G. Otte is Senior Lecturer in Diplomatic History at the University of East Anglia. His recent publications include The China Question: Great Power Rivalry and British Isolation, 1894–1905 (2007), The Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 1854–1946 (with Keith Neilson, 2009) and Coalition Government in Britain: From Glorious Revolution to Cameron-Clegg (as editor, 2010).

• Introduction; 1. Illusions of supremacy: the Foreign Office mind, 1865–74; 2. The problems of isolation: the Foreign Office mind, 1874–85; 3. Problems of consolidation: the Foreign Office mind, 1885–92; 4. Two eastern questions: the Foreign Office mind and the period of flux in great power politics, 1892–1900; 5. The transformation of great power politics: the Edwardian Foreign Office mind, 1900–7; 6. The end of an era: the late-Edwardian Foreign Office mind, 1907–14; Conclusion.

'Otte opens up our understanding of the role of the diplomatic professionals in the long nineteenth century, keeping a careful balance in his analysis of the role of the professionals and that of their political masters. Meticulous in its scholarship, written with great clarity, this work demonstrates with ease a mastery of a complex and intricate subject.' Erik Goldstein, Boston University

T. G. Otte is Senior Lecturer in Diplomatic History at the University of East Anglia. His recent publications include The China Question: Great Power Rivalry and British Isolation, 1894–1905 (2007), The Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 1854–1946 (with Keith Neilson, 2009) and Coalition Government in Britain: From Glorious Revolution to Cameron-Clegg (as editor, 2010).

• Introduction; 1. Illusions of supremacy: the Foreign Office mind, 1865–74; 2. The problems of isolation: the Foreign Office mind, 1874–85; 3. Problems of consolidation: the Foreign Office mind, 1885–92; 4. Two eastern questions: the Foreign Office mind and the period of flux in great power politics, 1892–1900; 5. The transformation of great power politics: the Edwardian Foreign Office mind, 1900–7; 6. The end of an era: the late-Edwardian Foreign Office mind, 1907–14; Conclusion.

'Otte opens up our understanding of the role of the diplomatic professionals in the long nineteenth century, keeping a careful balance in his analysis of the role of the professionals and that of their political masters. Meticulous in its scholarship, written with great clarity, this work demonstrates with ease a mastery of a complex and intricate subject.' Erik Goldstein, Boston University