Nowadays, it is difficult to have a conversation about politics or public policy without mentioning the words “civil society”, so one might assume that politicians and policy makers are clear about what they mean when they use these words, and why civil society is so important. Unfortunately clarity and rigor are conspicuous by the absence in the civil society debate…

Roger Lyons’s presentation for the ‘Beyond the headlines: the real impact of offshore’ seminar, Session 2 – The impact on the developed economies: Analysis, best practice and policy recommendations

Guy de Jonquières’s presentation for the ‘Beyond the headlines: the real impact of offshore’ seminar, Session 2 –The impact on the developed economies: Analysis, best practice and policy recommendations

On 11 March 2004 the Foreign Policy Centre brought together John Lloyd and Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie to take part in a seminar on the Iraq War, one year after they had written contrasting pamphlets on the subject. Transcripts are available below.

Vicky Pryce’s presentation for the ‘Beyond the headlines: the real impact of offshore’ seminar, Session 2 –The impact on the developed economies: Analysis, best practice and policy recommendations

Paul Morrison’s presentation for the ‘Beyond the headlines: the real impact of offshore’ seminar, Session 1 –Globalisation of services: key trends

Click below to read the conference report of the Barrow Cadbury Trust / Foreign Policy Centre Global Exchange Forum.

The message from politicians has been simple. For Ken Livingstone it would be “miraculous” if “some terrorists didn’t get through” while for the Prime Minister and the Head of the Metropolitan police it’s a question of “when not if”. Their plea for us to be “alert but not alarmed” is difficult to internalise when the scenarios range from a lone suicide bomber, through a Madrid style attack, to an unconventional chemical, biological or nuclear attack. “Prepare for every eventuality” is a cliché that has ratcheted the nation into a febrile state. But won’t help you survive an attack. In amidst this maelstrom of fear, there is what Donald Rumsfeld might call “known knowns”.

Jennifer Rankin was the winner of last year’s Webb Essay competition. The essay question was ‘Is the US a rogue state?’

Deliberation of democracy promotion in the Middle East intensified after the attacks of 9/11, and has been further energized by the transatlantic debates that were progeny of the Iraqi conflict. More intense debate over support for political change in the Middle East has forced the U.S. and Europe into a closer exploration of each other’s actual and intended approaches to democracy promotion in the region.

http://www.ceip.org/files/pdf/CP45.YOUNGS.final.PDF