In this episode of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 06, Episode 26, we explore Chapter 26 of 'Mastering Modern British History (Fourth Edition)' by Norman Lowe. This episode examines how Britain grappled with the immense problems of its vast Empire between the First and Second World Wars. We delve into the rise of nationalist movements across the Empire, from India to Egypt and the Arab mandates, and the complex path to independence for Southern Ireland. A key focus will be the evolving relationship with the white dominions, leading to the formation of the British Commonwealth through the Imperial Conference of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster (1931). Listeners will gain insight into the violent events leading to the partition of Ireland and the establishment of the Irish Free State, including the Easter Rising of 1916 and the subsequent civil war. We also trace the arduous Indian struggle for independence, highlighting the impact of the Amritsar Massacre, Mahatma Gandhi's campaigns, and the growing Hindu-Muslim tensions that foreshadowed partition. Finally, we analyze Britain's management of its Middle East mandates—Iraq, Transjordan, and the particularly challenging situation in Palestine, marked by the contradictory promises of the Balfour Declaration and escalating Jewish-Arab hostility.