03 Feb The liberal world order has never looked so threatened – 1828

Matt Gillow, the British Foreign Policy Group’s Communications & Events Manager, wrote for opinion platform 1828 on the 75 years since the ‘birth’ of the liberal world order, and argued that it’s never looked so threatened.

Matt said: “to mark its 75th anniversary, the United Nations, born shortly after the guns fell silent on the second world war, plans to open the largest ever conversation on global cooperation on the issues that matter for tomorrow: climate change, inequality, and new patterns of violence and conflict. But just when liberal democracy and cooperation is needed more than ever, it looks wildly under threat.

This is not an attack on Brexit. The United Kingdom, with a robust and forward-thinking foreign policy, can still be a leader in global cooperation outside of the European Union – and should adopt a role as a convener between the US, EU and China. Through this role, we can play an important part in driving a shift towards climate diplomacy, a more strategically-minded NATO, and fostering global trade.”

On the institutions that make up the liberal world order, Matt went on to say: “the United Nations matters. It is one of the only institutions that enjoys approval across the breadth of the British public. British Foreign Policy Group research showed that the UN was the international institution with the greatest level of support among Labour voters, and second only to the Commonwealth among Conservative voters.

At a time when foreign policy consensus in the United Kingdom is completely frayed – with the election manifestos finding minimal common ground – rebuilding consensus around popular institutions seems smart. “

You can read the full article here.

About the British Foreign Policy Group

The British Foreign Policy Group is an independent, non-partisan think tank based in London. Through dynamic research, events and networks, we seek to strengthen the UK’s international engagement, and advance our understanding of global affairs in the 21st Century.

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