By Tom Blass.

FPC Research Associate Tom Blass analyses the use of international sanctions and their humanitarian and political impact, examining if their current application is appropriate.

Download FPC Briefing: Time to reappraise sanctions? (340 kilobyte PDF)

By Dr Chris Ogden .

As North Korea continues to flout international pressure, FPC Research Associate Dr Chris Ogden analyses the positions of the major regional powers – the US, Japan, China and Russia – on the current crisis.

Download FPC Briefing: High Stakes Gambit (520 kilobyte PDF)

By Dr Kevork Oskanian.

Since their independence, the three South Caucasian states have come to adopt widely divergent strategic responses to the complex structural realities underlying their region's security landscape. Following the 2003 Rose Revolution, Georgia became unequivocally pro-Western: the goals of EU and NATO integration were firmly inscribed in two National Security Concepts, adopted in 2006 and 2011, which were recently confirmed in a rare bi-partisan parliamentary resolution uniting the otherwise fractious supporters of President Saakashvili and Prime Minister Ivanishvili. Over the past ten years, Armenia's pro-Russian orientation has, if anything, deepened, with Moscow gaining control of Yerevan's strategic industries and extending its basing rights till 2044; the Sargsyan regime has nevertheless maintained some elements of a 'complementary' foreign policy, most importantly an active engagement with the European Union, and, to a lesser extent, NATO. Azerbaijan's oil reserves, meanwhile, have allowed it to continue what it calls a 'multi-vectoral' approach, combining positive relations with Western states (mostly in the field of energy) with generally friendly interactions with Moscow.

Full text 

Adam Hug (Ed.)

Hard copy: £4.95, plus £1 p+p.

Download Europe in the World: Can EU foreign policy make an impact? (2.02 megabyte PDF)

The Foreign Policy Centre's new publication, Europe in the World: Can EU foreign policy make an impact?, examines both how Europe is seen on the world stage and the effectiveness of the new External Action Service in delivering on its key objectives: building an effective new diplomatic service, strengthening EU influence in the neighbourhood and developing relations with strategic partners. It explores the institutional and organisational challenges surrounding the creation of the EEAS and considers what tensions remain with other EU institutions and national governments, with particular reference to the UK's difficult relationship with Europe.

Europe in the World is edited by Adam Hug (Foreign Policy Centre). It contains contributions on a range of topics and different perspectives from: Dr. Jozef Batora (Comenius University), Thiago de Aragão (Foreign Policy Centre), William Gumede (Foreign Policy Centre), Jacqueline Hale (Open Society Foundations), Richard Howitt MEP, Stefan Lehne (Carnegie Europe), Dr. Simon Lightfoot and Dr Balazs Szent-Ivanyi (University of Leeds), Prof. Anand Menon (Kings College London), Rt. Hon. Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG, QC, MP, Edward Macmillan-Scott MEP, Prof. John Peterson (University of Edinburgh), Dr. Neil Winn (University of Leeds). Rt. Hon. Douglas Alexander MP (Shadow Foreign Secretary) provides the foreword.

• Europe in the world: London launch event
• Europe in the world: Leeds event
• Europe in the world: Edinburgh event

Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP

September 2010

Download Responsibility to the poor: A new agenda for changed times (790 kilobyte PDF)

In a publication launched by the Foreign Policy Centre entitled 'Responsibility to the poor: A new agenda for changed times', the former UK Secretary of State for International Development, Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, outlines why justice not charity needs to underpin the fight against global inequality and poverty. FPC Co-President Baroness Jay provides the foreword.

• The Guardian Poverty Matters blog article about this report

Dr David Tickner, Josephine Osikena (Ed.)

May 2010 Hard copy: £4.95, plus £1 p+p.

Download Tackling the world water crisis (790 kilobyte PDF)

This new FPC publication is being launched to mark World Environment Day (5 June). The report aims to stimulate discussion and debate amongst a wide ranging audience in an effort to promote the centrality of water on today's foreign policy agenda, particularly in light of the increasing environmental shocks and stresses presented by climate change and global population growth. In an increasingly interconnected world, where cooperation is no longer an option but an imperative, how can foreign policy inform and provide a more effective response to improving the management of freshwater while ensuring reliable and sustainable access?

Contributors to the pamphlet include: Rt Hon William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; Professor J.A. Tony Allan, King's College, London and School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS); Richard Black, BBC News; Belinda Calaguas, Director of Policy & Campaigns, ActionAid; Fiona Harvey, Environment Correspondent, The Financial Times, Dr Bruce Lankford, University of East Anglia; Bernice Lee, Research Director, Energy, Environment and Resource Governance, Chatham House; David Nussbaum, Chief Executive, WWF-UK; Dr Letitia A. Obeng, Chair, Global Water Partnership (GWP); Dan Smith, General Secretary, International Alert; Dr Martin R. Stuchtey, McKinsey & Company Inc.; Dr Camilla Toulmin, Director, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED); and Stephen Twigg MP, former Director, Foreign Policy Centre.

The report is being launched at the House of Lords on 3 June at 4.30pm. For more information, or to register, please email: events@fpc.org.uk

• Tackling the world water crisis London event

Date: Wednesday 6th March 2013

Time:6pm-7.30pm

Venue: Committee Room 11, Houses of Parliament

The Foreign Policy Centre is hosting a Westminster Seminar, with the kind support of Control Risks, that will discuss some of the key issues in the debate around hostage taking, piracy and the payment of ransoms. The event will enable a wide ranging debate around the public policy response to these issues in the wake of the recent report of the UK-led International Task Force, and earlier Foreign Affairs Select Committee and House of Lords reports.

The event aims to examine the current situation around the world in relation to the taking of hostages. The event will explore the economic, security, political and social factors that drive hostage taking. It will also discuss the mechanisms of hostage negotiation and ransom payment, while debating the feasibility of alternatives to such payments; looking at both ethical and practical issues. Participants would examine the issue of hostage taking by terrorist groups and links between those involved in piracy,extremist political movements and international terrorism.

Speakers:

• Alistair Burt MP, Foreign Office Minister responsible for the International Piracy Ransoms Taskforce
• Richard Fenning , Chief Executive Officer, Control Risks
• Judith and Oliver Tebbutt
• Dr Anja Shortland, Reader in Economics, Brunel University

Chair: Con Coughlin, Associate Editor, Daily Telegraph

The event is free and open to all but will operate under the Chatham House Rule.

Please RSVP to events@fpc.org.uk

Download Hostage taking, piracy and ransom payments (300 kilobyte PDF)

Date: Wednesday 13th February 2013

Time: 6pm-7.30pm

Venue:Michael Sadler Lecture theatre, University of Leeds, Leeds

Speakers:

• Linda McAvan MEP
• Dr Neil Winn, Senior Lecturer in European Studies, University of Leeds
• Dr Simon Lightfoot, Senior Lecturer in European Politics, University of Leeds
• Further speaker TBC

Chair: Adam Hug, Policy Director, Foreign Policy Centre

At this Europe in the World event hosted by the Foreign Policy Centre and European Commission Representation in the UK with the University of Leeds, we will debate the current state of EU foreign policy and explore both how Europe is seen on the world stage and the effectiveness of the External Action Service in delivering on its key objectives: building an effective new diplomatic service, strengthening EU influence in the neighbourhood and developing relations with strategic partners.

The event will explore the institutional and organisational challenges surrounding the creation of the EEAS and what tensions remain with other EU institutions and national governments. It will explore where the UK fits into the European Foreign Policy jigsaw and what impact the Eurozone crisis and other strategic shifts are having on the EU's role in the world and the extent to which it promotes 'European values' such as democracy and human rights both in the neighbourhood and globally.

Refreshments will be provided.The event is free and open to all.

Please RSVP to events@fpc.org.uk

Download Europe in the world: Leeds (500 kilobyte PDF)

Date: Tuesday 12th February 2013

Time: 6pm-7.30pm

Venue: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Room, Houses of Parliament, Westminster

Speakers:

• Emma Reynolds MP, Shadow Europe Minister
• Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC MP, Former Foreign Secretary
• Prof Anand Menon, Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs, Kings College, London
• John Peet, Europe Editor, The Economist

Chair: Adam Hug, Policy Director, Foreign Policy Centre

At this Europe in the World event hosted by the Foreign Policy Centre and European Commission Representation in the UK, will debate the current state of EU foreign policy and explore both how Europe is seen on the world stage and the effectiveness of the External Action Service in delivering on its key objectives: building an effective new diplomatic service, strengthening EU influence in the neighbourhood and developing relations with strategic partners.

The event will explore the institutional and organisational challenges surrounding the creation of the EEAS and what tensions remain with other EU institutions and national governments. It will explore where the UK fits into the European Foreign Policy jigsaw and what impact the Eurozone crisis and other strategic shifts are having on the EU's role in the world and the extent to which it promotes 'European values' such as democracy and human rights both in the neighbourhood and globally.

Please RSVP to events@fpc.org.uk

Download Europe in the World- London (430 kilobyte PDF)