Can the UK afford not to invest in Global Britain?
The UK’s security, prosperity and influence in the world is generated through a complex mix of soft and hard power; an open economy and a strong military, a significant aid…
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.
The UK’s internationalised universities and the protection of academic freedom
The higher education sector is one of the UK’s strengths, which is sometimes presented as part of British soft power. In fact, our universities are increasingly international institutions whose teaching…
Protecting the UK’s ability to defend its values: Conclusions and recommendations
This publication has brought together a range of different perspectives that recognise the need to build on the UK’s existing international capacities and activities, while reforming, refining and where necessary…
FPC Briefing: Beyond Territory: China’s ‘Zhoubian’ (Peripheral) Diplomacy in the South China Sea
China’s actions in the South China Sea have become increasingly visible and forceful in the last couple of years, and appear to be marking an assertive and self-confident turn in…
The principles for Global Britain: Executive Summary
This publication recommends how the UK Government can decide the principles and values that should underpin its concept of Global Britain’ and provides some strong suggestions of what they should…
Finding Britain’s role in a changing world: Principles (and priorities) for Global Britain
This publication explores the ethical basis on which the UK’s emerging post-Brexit foreign policy is being built, examining the principles and values that should help define it and looks at…
Prospects for an ethical foundation for a foreign policy in the context of democratic regression and authoritarian resurgence
Revising and reviving a values-based foreign policy at a time of unprecedented global fragility, complexity and uncertainty is an intimidating proposition. The strategic environment has radically shifted from the heady…
Developing domestic foundations for a values-based UK foreign policy
The Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, provides a welcome opportunity for a comprehensive review of the UK’s positioning in world politics. It comes at a pivotal…
Communitarian foreign policy: Ethics and public opinion
Summary Ethics are a fundamental aspect of foreign policy, not an add-on. They should be grounded in the relationship between government and the governed. This would involve far more engagement…
Seeing ‘I’ to ‘I’: British support for idealism and interest-based approaches to foreign policy
In the context of recent changes to the structure of the foreign policy and international aid apparatus, and considering the upcoming Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review, here…