ABSTRACT
While a structural role theory account makes progress in explaining Britain’s appeasement strategy toward Germany, Italy, and Japan during the first half of the 1930s, it is more difficult to accept it even as a matter of face validity during Neville Chamberlain’s tenure as prime minister. There are too many anomalous decisions, especially in 1939, that do not fit an appeasement strategy based on the structural constraints of power and interests. Some would explain these anomalies simply as foreign policy mistakes or fiascos—for example, Chamberlain’s strategy of appeasement led to mistaken decisions based on his lack of diplomatic skill in bargaining with the dictators or the result of a failed attempt to buy time until Britain could rearm and face the German threat with force instead of diplomacy. 1
