The role of the FCO in UK government

The role of the FCO in UK government

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Foreign Affairs Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2011-05-12

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 9780215559470

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Foreign Affairs Committee believes the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will not be back at the centre of Government and able to lead UK foreign policy, in line with the Foreign Secretary's ambitions, unless it can provide deep foreign policy expertise and judgement to underpin and implement Government decision-making. The FCO must have the resources and skills required to fulfil this role, especially specialist geographical expertise and knowledge of foreign languages. The FCO has a vital role to play for the Government, namely the timely provision of world-class foreign policy information, analysis, judgement and execution. Finances, people and buildings must be well-managed, but managerial requirements must not divert time and focus disproportionately from the FCO's core foreign policy functions. Given the resource constraints facing the FCO, however, there is doubt whether the department can achieve the Government's ambitions for enhanced commercial work while maintaining its core foreign policy functions at the required standard. The committee regards the FCO's network of overseas posts as integral to the department's ability to discharge its functions, and recommends that the FCO should seek to maintain a global UK presence. The committee also called "confusing" the fact that under the current Government the FCO has three sets of priorities: the Foreign Secretary's, the Cabinet Office's Business Plan for the department, and the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.


The Overseas Territories

The Overseas Territories

Author: Great Britain. Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 126

ISBN-13: 9780101837422

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Government, in consultation with the Territories and other stakeholders, has developed a strategy of re-engagement: strengthening links between the Territories and the UK; strengthening governance; and enhancing support to the Territories. This White Paper sets out priorities for action in terms of defending the Territories; supporting successful economic development; preserving the Territories' rich environmental heritage and addressing the challenges of climate change; making government work better; community issues; and strengthening links with international and regional organisations or other countries. Taking this forward will require a partnership between the UK Government and Territory Governments. The UK wants to strengthen political engagement between Ministers in the UK and the Territories, particularly through the proposed Joint Ministerial Council, and is determined to live up to its responsibilities to the Territories


The Position of Heads of State and Senior Officials in International Law

The Position of Heads of State and Senior Officials in International Law

Author: Joanne Foakes

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 0199640289

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A comprehensive and in-depth study of the legal position in international law of heads of state, heads of government and other senior state officials, this book analyses relevant treaties, case law, and custom to set out the law in this area and provide practical guidance.


FCO public diplomacy

FCO public diplomacy

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Foreign Affairs Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2011-02-06

Total Pages: 86

ISBN-13: 9780215556295

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games is likely to be a 'once in a generation' opportunity for the UK to attract the attention and interest of the entire global community. The report reviews other countries' experience of using major sporting events for public diplomacy purposes. The Games offer an unparalleled opportunity to promote UK business, trade and inward investment. The Committee recommends holding a major trade event close to or during the Games to secure the maximum commercial benefit to the national economy. The FCO should also make more of the claim that the 2012 Games will be "the world's first sustainable Games", publicising around the world the many examples of environmental good practice in the planning and building of the event. And it should continue to use the Games to promote British culture and values at home and abroad, emphasising that London is an open and welcoming city, and that the UK is a diverse, inclusive and friendly country. The Committee is worried that budget cuts may result in the FCO's work related to the Olympics becoming a matter solely of individual initiatives by embassies and High Commissions, without adequate central co-ordination. The Committee recommends that the FCO should form a 'rapid response unit', set up well before the Games, which can rebut or challenge negative stories appearing in the world media.


British foreign policy and the 'Arab Spring'

British foreign policy and the 'Arab Spring'

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Foreign Affairs Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2012-07-19

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 9780215046833

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Eighteen months since the Arab Spring began, there has been extraordinary progress in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. Yet many challenges still lie ahead, not least the need to support and reform the economies of these Arab Spring states. In 2011, the G8 Deauville Partnership identified $38 billion of funding available to support reform. The UK must use its leadership in the EU and G8 to ensure that we deliver on our promises. The Government needs to learn lessons from its experience in anticipating and handling the Arab Spring. Questions arose about the FCO's staffing levels, linguistic expertise and information gathering in the Middle East and North Africa region, although diplomats understood well the long-term problems in the region. The report welcomes the Government's recent moves to establish contacts with Islamist parties in the region and calls for deeper engagement to demonstrate at an early stage the UK's support and assistance for democratically elected leaders who respect human rights and democratic reforms. The BBC's Arabic Service further highlighted the importance of the BBC World Service in providing an independent news service and enhancing the UK's standing in the region. The Committee welcomes the Government's decision to reverse planned cuts to the Arabic Service last year, expresses concerns that cuts made elsewhere in the World Service will prove detrimental to the national interest, and urges that there be a sustained investment in the World Service


Migration and Social Protection in Europe and Beyond (Volume 3)

Migration and Social Protection in Europe and Beyond (Volume 3)

Author: Jean-Michel Lafleur

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-11-12

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 3030512371

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This third and last open access volume in the series takes the perspective of non-EU countries on immigrant social protection. By focusing on 12 of the largest sending countries to the EU, the book tackles the issue of the multiple areas of sending state intervention towards migrant populations. Two “mirroring” chapters are dedicated to each of the 12 non-EU states analysed (Argentina, China, Ecuador, India, Lebanon, Morocco, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey). One chapter focuses on access to social benefits across five core policy areas (health care, unemployment, old-age pensions, family benefits, guaranteed minimum resources) by discussing the social protection policies that non-EU countries offer to national residents, non-national residents, and non-resident nationals. The second chapter examines the role of key actors (consulates, diaspora institutions and home country ministries and agencies) through which non-EU sending countries respond to the needs of nationals abroad. The volume additionally includes two chapters focusing on the peculiar case of the United Kingdom after the Brexit referendum. Overall, this volume contributes to ongoing debates on migration and the welfare state in Europe by showing how non-EU sending states continue to play a role in third country nationals’ ability to deal with social risks. As such this book is a valuable read to researchers, policy makers, government employees and NGO’s.


The Role and Future of the Commonwealth

The Role and Future of the Commonwealth

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Foreign Affairs Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2012-11-15

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13: 9780215049933

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Commonwealth is working for the UK however if the organisation is to reach its potential and influence events, the Commonwealth Secretariat needs to "sharpen, strengthen and promote its diplomatic performance". Recently the Commonwealth has appeared less active and less publicly visible. The Government does not appear to have a clear and co-ordinated strategy for its relations with the Commonwealth. The moral authority of the Commonwealth has "too often been undermined by the repressive actions of member governments". The Committee is "disturbed to note the ineffectiveness of the mechanisms for upholding the Commonwealth's values", and expresses support for the Eminent Persons Group's proposal for a Commonwealth Charter. The Committee also says that it is not convinced that member states are making the most of the economic and trading opportunities offered by the Commonwealth. The report welcomes the fact that the Commonwealth continues to attract interest from potential new members, and the report says that there are advantages in greater diversity and an extended global reach for the Commonwealth however the application process should be rigorous. There is also concern at the continuing evidence of serious human rights abuses in Sri Lanka and the Committee urges the Prime Minister to state publicly his unwillingness to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo meeting unless he receives "convincing and independently-verified evidence of substantial and sustainable improvements in human and political rights in Sri Lanka."


Balancing Power without Weapons

Balancing Power without Weapons

Author: Ashley Thomas Lenihan

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2018-03-22

Total Pages: 377

ISBN-13: 1107181860

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book focuses on the non-military military means through which states intervene to balance the economic and military power of other states. Also available as Open Access.


British Public Diplomacy and Soft Power

British Public Diplomacy and Soft Power

Author: JAMES. PAMMENT

Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan

Published: 2018-11-10

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 9783319827667

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This volume outlines two decades of reforms at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), British Council and BBC World Service - the so-called Public Diplomacy Partners. Between 1995 and 2015, the FCO and its partner organisations in promoting British influence abroad have introduced major changes to how, where and with whom diplomacy is conducted. This unique study links major organisational reforms to the changing political, technological and intellectual contexts of the day. Through detailed case studies over a 20-year period, this study demonstrates how and why British diplomacy evolved from a secretive institution to one understanding its purpose as a global thought leader through concepts such as public diplomacy, digital diplomacy and soft power. It is rich with unpublished documents and case studies, and is the most detailed study of the FCO and British Council in the contemporary period. From Cool Britannia to the recent GREAT campaign via the 2012 Olympics and diplomats on Twitter, this book charts the theory and practice behind a 21st century revolution in British diplomacy. This work will be of much interest to policymakers and advisors, students and researchers, and foreign policy and communication specialists. "From the heady past of Cool Britannia to the present days of the Great Campaign by way of the Royal Wedding, London Olympics and multiple other gambits in Britain's evolving attempt to connect to foreign publics, this book is the essential account of the inner workings of a vital aspect of contemporary British foreign policy: public diplomacy. James Pamment is an astute, succinct and engaging Dante, bringing his readers on journey through the policy processes behind the scenes. We see the public diplomacy equivalents of paradise, purgatory and the inferno, though Pamment leaves us to decide which is which." Nicholas J. Cull, author of 'The Decline and Fall of the United States Information Agency: American Public Diplomacy, 1989-2001'. "A gift to practitioners who want to do the job better: required reading for anyone going into a senior job at the British Council, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and enlightened thinkers at 10 Downing Street, HM Treasury and Ministries of Foreign Affairs worldwide. Authoritative, scholarly and accurate, Pamment strikes a great balance between the salient details and the overarching picture. He also does a major service to those of us who lived it; our toils make more sense for what he has done - placing them in a historical and conceptual context." John Worne, Director of Strategy & External Relations, British Council, 2007-2015