What was the greatest threat to Britain's position as a world power in the years 1874-1901?

1. OVERSEAS COMPETITION - Russia (1874-1885) - balance of power in Balkans and Med., threatening India and British trade dominance in China Germany (1885-1905) - threatened British colonial dominance in Africa, threatened naval balance of power, threatened British trade dominance in China
2. BRITISH IMPERIAL OVERSTRETCH - colonial wars with Zulus and Boers in South Africa, annexation of Egypt and subsequent occupation of Sudan, many new subjects and new land due to Scramble for Africa
3. BRITISH SPLENDID ISOLATIONISM - refusal to join Triple Alliance, left out of Franco-Russian alliance, however changing by 1905 with 1904 Entente Cordial

CONCLUSION = – Greatest threat was overseas competition as it threatened both Britain’s European balance of power interests as well as its Imperial interests. Imperial overstretch was a burden on Britain’s resources but colonial skirmishes never really threatened to bring the British empire down and had little effect on European balance of power. Likewise Britain’s isolationism left it in a precarious position in Europe and without any mainland allies but it still had its Empire to back it and also this had begun to resolve itself by 1905.