RSS

May 2, 2012 | Denmark's Strategic Importance to Transatlantic Security

Niall Mulchinock: In response to Lord West’s comments branding Denmark and Belgium as second-rate countries while insisting that Britain will continue to remain a major power, despite its defense cuts, it is necessary to signify the important role that Denmark plays in regards to its continued commitment to transatlantic security.

June 8, 2009 | UK's Future in the EU in Question After Vote

Marc Lewis Thomas: Future British participation in European Union could be called into question by the results of the EU Parliamentary elections. There are some feasible outcomes for Britain vis-à-vis EU participation in the context of domestic and European issues.

November 20, 2012 | The Consequences of a British Exit from the EU

UK Prime Minister Cameron may well be putting in motion a political process that will culminate in Britain’s exit from the EU. ++ That outcome would deal a serious blow to European solidarity and shake the foundations of the transatlantic alliance. ++ Britain has long served as a bridge between the United States and Europe, but London cannot remain an important partner on matters of

November 10, 2011 | No Compromise on Cluster Bombs

In 2008, Britain led 22 other NATO allies in signing a ban on the use of cluster bombs. ++ Now the US, a notable holdout of the treaty, is trying to water down the ban to the point of near worthlessness. ++ Cluster bombs are an indefensible weapon, endangering civilian and combatants indiscriminately and designed to cause the maximum amount of carnage. ++ Britain and others are considering

August 22, 2011 | "What Will Free Libya Look Like?"

The conflict in Libya has reached “zero hour”. ++ As rebels infiltrate Tripoli and celebrate Gaddafi’s imminent surrender, the “forward-thinking” Transitional National Council makes plans for post-conflict stabilization. ++ The most important task for the TNC is to ensure that all regions of Libya are adequately represented in the new government, whose seat could be moved

August 19, 2011 | Britain is a "Lost Ally" for the US

The “special relationship” between the UK and US has become “a rather pathetic British conceit”. ++ In light of severe defense cuts that will see tanks and artillery cut by 40 percent, Britain no longer has the military “mass” to justify its reputation as a vital US ally. ++ In turn, London has lost confidence in nearly all its European partners besides France.

July 21, 2011 | Amid Famine, Somalia Requires Immediate Help

More than 10 million people in the Horn of Africa are “in urgent need of food, water and emergency health care” as the UN declared a famine in southern Somalia. ++ Previous warnings by the UN about a drought and impending food crisis in the region have gone mostly unheeded. Britain has pledged $84 million to support drought victims, but other Europeans, such as Italy which mustered

July 19, 2011 | British Attitudes Towards the UK's International Priorities

Chatham House’s second survey in partnership with YouGov tests British thinking about the country’s place in the world and assesses how this thinking may have changed during the coalition government’s first year in office.
Key findings include:

Support for close transatlantic relations declines with decreasing age, with 18–24-year-olds being the least supportive. This trend by age

May 3, 2011 | Rapprochement on Cruise from Suez to Benghazi

Franco-British estrangement, caused by opposing lessons from 1956 Suez debacle, ended en route to Benghazi . ++ London realizes relationship with Washington is less special, so needs to prove independence to be noticed. ++ UK and France want to be tough guys on continent where Germany can’t play ball for security; pooling resources through NATO is only solution for Franco-British

February 4, 2009 | Britain: Immigrants Are Target of Domestic Woes

When will people start to understand that immigrants are vital for a functioning economy and kicking them out of Britain would mean depriving people of doctors, nurses, teachers and so forth? ++ In addition, immigrants don’t just take national jobs, they also create them by spending in shops and making the economy run. ++ Free movement of labor is one of the legal requirements of EU membership.

December 11, 2008 | British Power Lies in Culture

Britain’s culture commands admiration from around the world; more so than its politics or economic power. ++ Football, leading universities and an elegant command of the English language are among the most iconic of Britain’s cultural offerings. ++ In order to maintain this “magnetic power abroad,” the state must play a limited role in cultural affairs. ++ However, increased public

November 24, 2008 | Keynes to the Rescue

Keynesian economics prevail in times of economic turmoil. ++ Britain should “expect plans for higher borrowing, tax cuts, and more spending in Monday’s pre-Budget statement.” ++ While economists and politicians differ on intervention policies, Keynes emphasized the importance of restoring market confidence and preventing recessions from becoming politically dangerous. ++ “In a depression, a

September 24, 2008 | UK: Take Action, Cut Interest Rates

Unemployment in Britain will rise by 2 million by the end of the year. ++ Just last month 81,000 more British citizens were without jobs, causing the unemployment rate to rise from 5.3% to 5.5%. ++ Job activity is on a sharp decline. ++ Employers are not hiring, and unemployment among the youth is very high. ++ Unfortunately, the UK economy tends to follow the path of the US economy, simply six

September 15, 2008 | Carbon Capture Must be Utilized

In reality there are no means by which to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels before 2050. ++ Therefore, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) stations are needed to control the amount of carbon that is emitted into the atmosphere. ++ The Group of Eight has endorsed this approach and must now act by building 10 to 20 such stations to test which methods are most secure and effective. ++ Britain must

May 22, 2008 | Iranian Oil Could Loosen Russia's Energy Grip

Iran, which is the OPEC’s second’s largest exporter, has enough natural gas to alleviate Western Europe’s uncomfortable reliance on Russia’s energy exports. ++ Disputes over pipelines, political blocking, and current US sanctions on capital inflow into Iran stand in the way of exploiting this huge potential. ++ Much depends on the coming elections, both in the US and Iran,

May 21, 2008 | Has British Multiculturalism Gone too Far?

Recent warnings of a “cold war” in parts of Britain where “separate communities live side by side…with poor communications across racial lines” have brought into question the wisdom of the British vision of multiculturalism. ++ Earlier this year, the archbishop of Canterbury asked if western countries could avoid making minorities choose between state and cultural loyalty. ++ Controversially,

May 20, 2008 | Rebalancing Britain's Foreign Policy

UK Foreign Secretary Miliband believes Britain should no longer be “the bridge” speaking for the US in the EU, and in the name of its European neighbors in Washington. ++ Even if the US remains Britain’s most important bilateral partner, Britain belongs to Europe. ++ Strong and trustful transatlantic relations need to be established together with France and Germany rather than unilaterally. ++

March 21, 2008 | Britain's Security Strategy Needs to be More European

Britain’s new US-style national security strategy (NSS) should provide for better risk assessment, more troops, and more funds. ++ Unfortunately, the NSS only makes casual reference to Europe and features a continuing belief in security autarky. ++ The NSS requires cooperation with EU members for manpower, resources, and especially to bolster Britain when addressing the Russian and Chinese

February 7, 2008 | How do European and US Think Tanks Measure Up?

Ted R. Bromund of Yale University explains that liberal US think tanks (and their budgets) are expanding rapidly and notes that the Brookings Institution “has grown by 50 percent over the past two years.” Conservative American think tanks are not fairing so well, but when compared to similar European institutions, all American think tanks regardless of political affiliation appear wealthy. This