Text | Lanzi Ji
Ed Lanzi Ji
Looking back on a period of history, Britain was once extremely glorious. For the British, that glorious era made every piece of land scattered around the world carry endless glory.
The world has certainly heard of the empire, especially those that once belonged to its overseas territories, such as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands and the British Virgin Islands, each of which has witnessed the prosperity and prosperity of this empire.
In the 21st century, the changes and choices made by Britain at the end of the 19th century are also worth paying attention to.
1993 British Overseas Territories
Until 1993, the vast empire retained control over a number of territories.
When people think of Bermuda, they always think of mystery and incredibleness. This small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is just a stone's throw from the United States, which is nearly two hours from land.
When it comes to British pride, there is no greater place to be than the Falkland Islands.
This small piece of land is known to the world after a series of wars over resources. Although far from the center of European colonization, the Falkland Islands in southern South America were a solid line of defense for the British Empire.
Gibraltar, on the border between Spain and Morocco, is another iconic territory that proves the status of the British Empire.
This territory is like a gateway to the sea, holding back any invaders who want to enter the Mediterranean.
In the western Indian Ocean, there are places such as the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and the Cayman Islands, which are of various sizes, but they were all important stages that once played a key role in the direction of the United Kingdom.
Although these lands are inextricably linked to Britain in the administrative, economic and legal spheres, it is undeniable that they still retain some autonomy.
What is even more surprising is that Britain has always been the one who shouldered the heavy responsibility of defending against the enemy and sticking to the diplomatic mission in these places.
Now, time has flown by and the world has changed dramatically.
The former empire has fallen apart, the former sovereignty is no longer familiar to people, and the sense of history seems to drift away with the wind.
Royal Navy in 1992
In an era known as the end of the Cold War, when globalization flourished and had a profound impact on global politics, the Royal Navy in 1992 faced many challenges and opportunities.
Yet, despite the difficulties faced by the United Kingdom, such as the global defence spending crunch, the Royal Navy in 1992 demonstrated tenacious vitality and irreplaceable strategic position.
First of all, in terms of fleet composition, the Royal Navy fleet in 1992 was quite large, with all kinds of ships, mainly including aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, nuclear submarines, and auxiliary ships.
It is worth mentioning that the two aircraft carrier formations of its aircraft carrier group, HMS Queen and HMS Invincible, have become the guardians of the solitude of the ocean with their advanced technology and excellent performance.
In addition, the submarine force has also performed well, including not only ballistic missile nuclear submarines, but also attack nuclear submarines and other cutting-edge equipment. Such a powerful underwater combat capability is enough to reflect the strength of Britain as a traditional maritime hegemon.
On the other hand, due to the end of the Cold War, NATO member states had to start streamlining their military affairs, and Britain was a typical representative of this.
The sharp reduction in the national defense budget has forced some originally scheduled military projects to be adjusted or postponed many times in order to adapt to the new international security situation.
However, difficulties for the Royal Navy have become challenges and opportunities. They are responding to the changes and exploring a more efficient and practical model of economic strategy in the South China Sea to deal with the growing problem of defense resource constraints.
In addition, the Royal Navy in 1992 was engaged in a variety of international missions, including United Nations peacekeeping operations and joint NATO military training.
These events not only demonstrated the UK's significant influence on the world stage, but also fully demonstrated the determination and ability of the Royal Navy to safeguard national interests and international peace.
For example, in 1992, Britain participated in the United Nations-led multinational coalition for the liberation of Kuwait, known as the Gulf War, an epic battle that once again demonstrated the Royal Navy's unrivalled combat effectiveness and ability to organize and coordinate.
Despite the global economic malaise and rising international security tensions, the Royal Navy in 1992 did not retreat from this, but bravely rose to the challenge and adapted to the changing environment.
They have always adhered to their mission and steadily promoted reform and innovation, in order to be invincible in the fierce competition in the future.
British troops stationed overseas in 1992-1993
During the period from 1992 to 1993, Britain used a number of targeted military operations to strengthen its own defence capabilities and play a role in promoting regional stability.
The first to mention is Germany. As part of the legacy of the Cold War, Britain maintained a large military presence in Germany to serve the NATO defense system.
In addition to deterring East Germany and the Soviet Union, the garrison at that time was more responsible for providing the necessary infrastructure for that era.
This is followed by Zambia. Despite the small size of the garrison, the British played an important stabilizing role in the region.
The local area is rich in resources, which is of great significance for the establishment of a stable and just regime. Therefore, the duty of the British garrison is to maintain border stability and assist the government in establishing legitimate authority, so as to effectively protect the British business interests in the territory.
In Cyprus, the United Kingdom is committed to maintaining long-term stability.
The main purpose of the British garrison here was to maintain stability and order in this geographically important area, including the consolidation of bonds of friendship with other countries, in order to achieve the goal of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial development.
In addition, the United Kingdom has a certain number of military stations in many corners of the world, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.
Not only were they involved in United Nations peacekeeping operations, but they were also directly involved in international security cooperation to ensure that Britain's specific interests in the former colonies and related land rights were realized.
We can find that these long and arduous years, which have gone through various twists and turns, have finally brought substantial benefits to the UK, and fully reflect the UK's firm belief and positive attitude towards stability and harmony in all corners of the international community.
It can be said that these overseas military activities not only prove that Britain has considerable strength and self-confidence in the military field, but also show Britain's strong influence and extensive participation in the world.
In 1992, the UK moved to a single European market
In a solemn ceremony on February 7, 1992, the countries of Latin Europe signed the remarkable Treaty of Maxtricht.
The treaty changed the landscape of the European Community, giving it new diplomatic and defence responsibilities and introducing a single currency.
However, this huge historical change has not been recognized by everyone.
For example, on June 2 of the same year, Denmark held a nationwide referendum in which it overwhelmingly voted negative against the Mayo – 50.7% of the total vote.
The backlash of public opinion soon triggered a currency crisis. In just two months, the UK took the necessary measures to ensure the stability of its exchange rate.
In order to resolve differences within the European Community and prepare for the upcoming important meeting, British Prime Minister John Major embarked on a series of visits in the autumn of that year.
He traveled extensively across Europe in an effort to heal the rifts created by the Treaty and to prepare for the Edinburgh Summit.
After in-depth discussions and negotiations, the Edinburgh summit finally reached a consensus to include the issue of Macedonian aid on the agenda.
It also plans to provide up to £1.6 billion in aid to new members Poland, Hungary and post-independence Czechoslovakia (i.e., the Czech Republic and Slovakia) for their recovery efforts.
At the same time, Edinburgh has approved Sweden, Finland and Austria to formally join the European Community, and is considering admitting Poland and Hungary as new members.
In addition, the summit stipulated that all matters involving multiple countries should be resolved through consultations, and that only in exceptional cases could decisions be made directly by the EU institutions in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
These detailed and detailed regulations fully reflect the urgency of the EU's internal governance principles to promote a more transparent and orderly environment for cooperation.
Visits of the British Prime Minister in 1990-1993
Between 1990 and 1993, the political scene of the British Empire was turned upside down. During this period, two prime ministers came to power.
During their respective tenures, they have brought Britain into the face of globalization through visits to the international perspective.
The first is Margaret Thatcher. The female politician was a representative of the British Prime Minister for a long time in the first half of 1991.
As a leader who took a strong stance during her tenure, she made a variety of major foreign missions to build strong ties with leaders around the world, including U.S. President Ronald Reagan as one of her close associates.
However, in November 1990, she stepped down from power and was replaced by John Major.
During his time in power, Major was equally keen to expand Britain's influence through foreign travel.
For example, in 1991, he finally set foot on the long-awaited land of the Americas, and met with the then President of the United States, George W. Bush. H· W. Bush met to discuss some international issues.
Two years later, he paid a goodwill visit to the mainland to further expand the mutually beneficial relations between the two countries.
In this era, the international situation is treacherous, and the influence of the United Kingdom on the whole world is gradually increasing.
The Prime Minister's exchanges with the leaders of other countries have enhanced the position of the British Empire in key regions such as Europe, North America, and Asia, and at the same time, as the main channel for foreign exchanges with the main purpose of promoting international cooperation, it has also contributed to the continuous development of the economy.
This is the unique memory of the glorious time period of 1990-1993.
The two prime ministers have played a crucial role in the post-Cold War world that has engulfed wars and conflicts.
Although the world has changed a lot in the era of the global village, we can still clearly feel the glory and glory of that special era from their visits and exchanges around the world.
Long-term unemployment in the UK in 1993
In October 1992, when the government announced a major decision to close 50 coal mines, it undoubtedly caused a strong reaction across the country.
In this turmoil, it is not only the workers who have lost their jobs, but also the young people who want to further improve their capabilities to meet the challenges of the future.
Faced with this situation, the government immediately adjusted and reduced the number of coal mines closed to 30, thus preventing nearly 30,000 miners from losing their jobs.
However, as time went on, the problem of unemployment became more and more severe.
Between 1992 and 1993, the unemployment rate in the UK was around 30 per cent, with as many as 1 million people permanently unemployed, meaning they had been unemployed for more than a year and were struggling to make ends meet.
Seeing this development, many people wonder whether the UK can withstand such heavy unemployment pressure.
In the face of public concerns, the government did not hesitate to invest a lot of money to help the unemployed.
Since then, the government has established more job training centres, vocational clubs, and various employment guidance agencies in various industries to help them find new job opportunities or improve their skills.
In addition, in order to reduce the socio-economic impact of corporate layoffs, the UK government has developed policies to encourage companies to retain employees as much as possible and to assist those who have been forced to lose their jobs.
During these difficult times, the government has contributed a total of £9.3 billion to support the unemployed. At the same time, companies are responding to the deteriorating economic environment.
For example, on March 11, 1993, suit manufacturer Rolls-Royce announced that it would lay off 5,000 people over the next two years, mainly in the Derby region.
In these challenging times, everyone is trying to find their place, and government policy measures may not solve all problems, but they can boost people's confidence in the future.
end
Between 1990 and 1993, the UK staged a wonderful chapter of political upheaval and economic challenges, as well as international turmoil.
In this symphony, political storms, economic hardship and world turmoil are intertwined into a colorful picture, showing us the unique and fascinating face of that era.
In November 1990, Margaret Thatcher resigned due to partisan tensions and misgivings about European unity, and was replaced by John Major, then Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The economic liberal policies pursued during the Margaret Thatcher period were known as "Thatcherism". After Major came to power, although he continued this ideological policy, he made moderate adjustments.
Over time, the UK has faced a number of dilemmas, including rising inflation, high unemployment and slowing gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
To this end, the British government has adopted a series of countermeasures, such as adjusting monetary policy and promoting economic structural reform, in an effort to find a solution.
The financial turmoil swept the world, and the United Kingdom was not immune, and the economy fell into a trough for a while. However, in the face of difficulties, countries have joined hands to overcome difficulties and seek a path of development, which has finally improved the situation.
Another remarkable event was Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the provocation of the Gulf War.
Between August 1990 and February of the following year, the war touched the nerves of the world. As an important member of the multinational alliance, Britain also actively participated in the military offensive to liberate Kuwait, injecting solid strength into world peace and stability.
In the context of contemporary European integration, the UK has always been an important part of it. The British side has conducted in-depth discussions and negotiations on the affairs of the European Parliament and the European Union.
During that period, there was a lot of discussion about social issues and political developments, whether it was the reform of the medical system, the adjustment of education policies, and the reform of the social welfare system.
This period was undoubtedly a pivotal period for the UK in political and economic change, and witnessed an active role for the UK on the international stage.
For society as a whole, this history is a true reflection of the all-round development of British society, culture, politics and other aspects.
Resources:
《英格兰的气质》（The English and their History） by Robert Tombs:
《大英帝国的崛起与衰落》（The Rise and Fall of the British Empire） by Lawrence James:
《不列颠的历史》（The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain） edited by Kenneth O. Morgan:
《不列颠王朝》（The Plantagenets） by Dan Jones:
《不列颠史》（A History of Britain） by Simon Schama:
《英国简史》（A Short History of England） by Simon Jenkins: