Author’s Note: Welcome to the first podcast from the British Institute of Global Affairs! Our first series, comprised of five episodes, will be focusing on the theme of ‘Diplomacy’ and each week, I’ll be speaking to guests about their backgrounds, experiences, insights, and thoughts on how the UK can navigate the world of diplomacy as we move further into the 21st century. As part of this, I’ve written some show notes that skim over the conversation, so you know what you have to look forward to.
You can find our podcast, here.
With a new government, comes new ideas. Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently gave a speech outlining his views on ‘Progressive Realism’. When we look at the world today, it can be hard to know if it is truly getting more dangerous or whether it is media soundbites and headlines grabbing our attention.
Our guest this week is the perfect person to shine light on this dilemma.
John Everard is the former UK Ambassador to North Korea having also been posted in Belarus, Uruguay, and elsewhere. He has advised the UN on sanctions against North Korea and held fellowships from Standford University and the London School of Economics. He is also the author of Only Beautiful, Please: A British Diplomat in North Korea, a memoir on his time in the country.
We start the podcast this week by looking at what first got John into the world of diplomacy and how he took on the adventure of establishing the UK’s embassy in Belarus with nothing but a Land Rover and a few Deutsche Marks. We then discuss the threats that are currently taking place and what insights he has to share from his time in North Korea.
We then move to a discussion on the changes in the world that bring opportunities for the UK whether that is the rise of the BRICS countries or the potential provided by the Commonwealth.
Finally, we end our conversation on the role of the public in diplomacy and if there is a case for optimism. Be sure to listen to the episode, and share your thoughts with us either on our Instagram, LinkedIn, or email!