A ‘Force for Good’? – Executive Summary
The nature of conflict in the world is shifting, along with the challenges they present for the UK. The number of violent conflicts today is as high as at any…
Articles, Briefings and Essays
The views expressed in the articles are those of each respective author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of the Foreign Policy Centre.
A ‘Force for Good’? – Introduction
The foreign policy of the United Kingdom (UK) is undergoing a period of evolution and adaptation, responding to: a changing geopolitical context; a different set of relationships with allies and…
Cooperation and values at the heart of UK engagement on conflict
In the aftermath of the Cold War, the future trajectory of the world seemed assured. The political philosopher Francis Fukuyama even wrote an obituary of the past, proclaiming the end…
A ‘Force for Peace’? UK peacebuilding and peacemaking and FCACs
UK involvement in peacebuilding and peacemaking has taken steps forwards and backwards over the last ten years. We have a better understanding of conflict, its drivers and relationship to inclusive…
Multilateral partnerships: The UK and the UN as partners in peacekeeping and peacemaking
The challenges The role of multilateral institutions, pre-eminently the United Nations (UN), in fragile states is multifaceted. They invariably maintain primary responsibility for the delivery of humanitarian aid – the…
The changing context for UK humanitarian and development activities in FCACs
The changing international landscape for humanitarian and development assistance in FCACs The UK’s overseas aid in coming years will be conditioned by the UK’s national interest as understood through a…
Heavy lift human security: The UK military and fragile states
When we talk about conflict sensitivity, invariably the first words we hear are ‘Do no harm’. In practice, we know that this is an impossible ask. All interventions, however benign…
UK private sector interests in fragile states
‘Global Britain’ encapsulates broad principles and aspirations for the UK’s continued influence in the world. The Prime Minister, in his preface to Global Britain in a Competitive Age (often referred…
Unpacking climate, development and conflict: Insights for contexts of FCACs
Climate change and pitfalls of low carbon development The recently concluded discussions of the COP26 climate summit highlighted that progress towards meeting the 1.5C target could not come any sooner.…
The importance of Gender in FCACs and the wider Women, Peace and Security Agenda
The year 2020 marked 20 years of the landmark United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325(UNSCR1325) on women, peace and security.[1] Since then nine additional Resolutions have been adopted to reinforce…