In 2021, an MP stood in Parliament and confidently asserted that “investing 0.7% [of Britain’s GNI] in international aid is in Britain’s interest” and that it would be wrong to cut it. One may find it perplexing that only 4 years later the same man, now Britain’s Prime Minister, would announce (with perhaps a bit …
Read more “The Cost of Starmer’s Shortsighted U-Turn On Foreign Aid “
When setting out a new path, or the next step in the current path, leaders will often make reference to history. “[insert country] has always…” is the line so often parroted that it can only prompt the rolling of eyes. To take one example, Vladimir Putin’s speech with Tucker Carlson made frequent and incessant references …
Donald Trump’s second presidential term has already shaken up the international stage. His unpredictable foreign policy and inward turn have left many US allies perplexed and recalibrating. Among them, Great Britain stands in a particularly precarious position. Since the end of World War II, the so-called ‘special relationship’ with Washington has been a cornerstone of …
Read more “After Empire, Beyond America?: Britain’s Identity at a Crossroads”
General Barrow once said that “War is a man’s work… you have to protect the manliness of war”. But when men are given the exclusive role of protecting their country, there is an implication that they also have authority and responsibility over the protected. In today’s episode, we dive into the field of Feminist Security …
The Flight of the Raven: Recent Developments in Contemporary Nordic Geopolitics A Monthly Report from the Nordics – 21st April 2025 By Jake Southerland Introduction Hello! I want to say ‘Velkommen’ to my first dispatch as the Nordic contributor for the British Institute of Global Affairs. My name is Jake Southerland, and I am an …
Editor’s Note: This piece is brought to you by Adam Ellis, a sustainability consultant and researcher for BIGA. Abstract This paper explores the evolution of the UK’s energy transition from 2023 to 2025 within the broader context of a global “Green Industrial Revolution.” It analyses key policy developments, including the Energy Act 2023 and the …
Read more “The UK’s Green Industrial Revolution: How Are We Doing, and What’s Next?”
My name is Kateryna Shtepa, and I am a student at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. My academic focus lies in U.S.-UK relations and the history of American economic policy. Over the course of my studies, I have also developed a strong interest in the political cultures and propaganda strategies of Eastern European states, …
Author’s Note: Welcome back to the BIGA Podcast! This season, we’re focusing on Security, Strategy, and Defence to explore the threats, challenges, and opportunities facing the UK and what it can do to prepare. Let us know what themes you would like us to explore in future seasons! The news is rife with bombastic personalities …
Read more “Season 2, Podcast #1 – Professor Phillips O’Brien”
With the release of the defence season of the podcast, this week’s commentary piece is going to be a review of Professor O’Brien’s latest book The Strategists: How War Made Them and How They Made War. The book focuses on the five key leaders during World War II: Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler. The …
Editor’s Note: This piece is brought to you by Nabila Arab. Click on her profile at the bottom of this piece to read more of her work with us or follow her on LinkedIn, here. For decades, the UK held a reputation as a place of safety. But for many refugees and asylum seekers today, …