Contents

List of Illustrations

List of Maps

Preface

Introducing Fight or Flight

1. Imperial Zenith? The Victors’ Empires after the First World War

2. Empires and the Challenge of Total War

3. Brave New World? Rebuilding Empire after the Second World War

4. Fiery Sunsets: Fighting Withdrawals in Asia, 1945–8

5. Troubled Roads: War and Revolution in Southeast Asia, 1948–57

6. Fighting Together, Drifting Apart: The Suez Crisis

7. The Return of the Red Shawls? Fighting Insurrection in Madagascar

8. Emergency! Paths to Confrontation in Black Africa

9. Keeping the Peace? ‘Constructive Nationalism’ in West Africa

10. From a Whisper to a Scream: The Politics of Letting Go

11. Open Wounds: Fighting the Algerian War

12. Endgames in Algeria and Rhodesia

13. New Dawn: After Fight or Flight

Glossary

Notes

Select Bibliography

Picture Acknowledgements

Index