Category: Commentary

Editor’s Note: This piece is brought to you by Azzurra Bassetti, a junior geopolitical analyst with Istituto Analisi Relazioni Internazionali and Master’s graduate in International Relations from the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals. ‘Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy …

Read more “Defending Democracy Abroad: The UK’s Foreign Policy Response to Authoritarian Powers”

Climate change is not only reshaping coastlines and weather patterns, but it is also remapping the future of the human movement. According to the World Bank, over 216 million people could be internally displaced by climate impacts by 2050, a staggering projection that underscores how environmental instability is fast becoming a major driver of human …

Read more “Green Card: How the UK’s Global Influence Can Shape Ethical Climate Migration Policies”

Earlier this week, Louis Theraux released his latest documentary, The Settlers. While the conflict in Palestine has not left public scrutiny, it had begun to retreat in the face of headlines about Donald Trump, European defence, and local council elections. Nonetheless, the public remains passionate about the issue. In a recent Question Time episode, one …

Read more “Settlement and Heartbreak: The British Response to Gaza”

Editor’s Note: This piece is brought to you by Maya Huby. Maya achieved a First-class degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bath, during which she undertook a work placement with various English vineyards. Since completing her degree, she has worked as a Food and Beverage Assistant with Lainston House as well …

Read more “Whining and Dining: Does Britain’s Palate Deserve Its Reputation?”

Over the last week, I have been fortunate enough to enjoy and witness some great conversations with some very interesting people. All of them have, in some way, related security back to young people and made defence relevant to a generation that has largely been the witness to a failing politics. Despite the worrying cause …

Read more “Ukraine, Palestine, and NATO: Three Conversations on Youth and Security”

Education has long served as one of the most prominent instruments of UK soft power, particularly across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The British Council, Chevening Scholarships, and partnerships with elite regional institutions have historically projected a narrative of mutual learning and opportunity. But behind that narrative lies a critical truth: access alone …

Read more “Education, Education, Education: Rethinking the UK’s Global Education Strategy”

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. To take one example, Putin’s speech with Tucker Carlson made frequent and incessant references to Russia’s supposed history to justify his invasion of Ukraine. …

Read more “What is ‘Grand’ About Grand Strategy?”

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”

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 …

Read more “‘The Strategists’: A Review”