Page "Liberal Party (UK)" Paragraph 17

In foreign policy, Gladstone was in general against foreign entanglements but did not resist the reality of imperialism.

For example, he approved of the occupation of Egypt by British forces in 1882.

His goal was to create a European order based on cooperation rather than conflict and mutual trust instead of rivalry and suspicion ; the rule of law was to supplant the reign of force and self-interest.

This Gladstonian concept of a harmonious Concert of Europe was opposed to and ultimately defeated by a Bismarckian system of manipulated alliances and antagonisms.