Foreign Policy Centre
Encyclopedia
The Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) is a British
think tank
specialising in foreign policy
. It was formed in 1998 and launched by Tony Blair
with the aim of developing a "vision of a fair and rule-based world order". It is pro-European. It has its origins on the centre-left of British
politics, but works with all political parties. The late Robin Cook
, the former British
Foreign Secretary was the FPC's founding President.
Through their research, publications and events they promote:
The FPC has hosted numerous events, featuring speakers from the world of politics, journalism, academia and civil society. Some notable names include Tony Blair
, David Cameron
, David Miliband
, Paddy Ashdown
, Hilary Benn
, Peter Mandelson
, Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan
and former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov
.
The FPC has also produced many influential publications, on subjects ranging from the future of Europe and international security to identity and the role of non-state actors in policymaking. They include 'After Multiculturalism' by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
, 'The Post-Modern State and the World Order' by Robert Cooper, 'Network Europe' and 'Public Diplomacy' by Mark Leonard, 'Brand China' by Joshua Cooper Ramo
, 'Voices from Iran' by Alex Bigham and 'A Global Alliance for Global Values' by Tony Blair
.
The FPC, in conjunction with Channel 4
Television, set up an independent, cross-party Commission in 2007 tasked with producing a blueprint for Britain's future involvement in Iraq
. The Iraq Commission Report was launched in a special programme on Saturday 14 July at 7.30 pm, televised on Channel 4
, a first for a British
think tank
. The Commission was chaired by Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, Baroness Jay of Paddington and Lord King of Bridgwater.
The FPC has connections to the British Labour Party
though works with all political parties. The current director (appointed in August 2010) is Josephine Osikena.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
specialising in foreign policy
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
. It was formed in 1998 and launched by Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
with the aim of developing a "vision of a fair and rule-based world order". It is pro-European. It has its origins on the centre-left of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politics, but works with all political parties. The late Robin Cook
Robin Cook
Robert Finlayson Cook was a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Livingston from 1983 until his death, and notably served in the Cabinet as Foreign Secretary from 1997 to 2001....
, the former British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Foreign Secretary was the FPC's founding President.
Through their research, publications and events they promote:
- Effective multilateral solutions to global problems
- Democratic and well-governed states as the foundation of order and development
- Partnerships with the private sector to deliver public goods
- Support for progressive policy through effective public diplomacy
- Inclusive definitions of citizenship to underpin internationalist policies."
The FPC has hosted numerous events, featuring speakers from the world of politics, journalism, academia and civil society. Some notable names include Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
, David Miliband
David Miliband
David Wright Miliband is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for South Shields since 2001, and was the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 2007 to 2010. He is the elder son of the late Marxist theorist Ralph Miliband...
, Paddy Ashdown
Paddy Ashdown
Jeremy John Durham Ashdown, Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, GCMG, KBE, PC , usually known as Paddy Ashdown, is a British politician and diplomat....
, Hilary Benn
Hilary Benn
Hilary James Wedgwood Benn is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Leeds Central since 1999. He served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development from 2003 to 2007 and as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs...
, Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson
Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, served in a number of Cabinet positions under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and was a European Commissioner...
, Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan
Tang Jiaxuan
Tang Jiaxuan was foreign minister of the People's Republic of China from 1998–2003.After various diplomatic postings in Japan, he became Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1991, Vice minister of foreign affairs in 1993 and Minister of foreign affairs from 1998 to 2003...
and former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov
Mikhail Kasyanov
Mikhail Mikhailovich Kasyanov - was the Prime Minister of Russia from May 2000 to February 2004.He is the leader of the People's Democratic Union and an ex-member of the opposition coalition "The Other Russia".-Political career:...
.
The FPC has also produced many influential publications, on subjects ranging from the future of Europe and international security to identity and the role of non-state actors in policymaking. They include 'After Multiculturalism' by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown MBE is a Ugandan-born British journalist and author, who describes herself as a "leftie liberal, anti-racist, feminist, Muslim, part-Pakistani...a very responsible person"...
, 'The Post-Modern State and the World Order' by Robert Cooper, 'Network Europe' and 'Public Diplomacy' by Mark Leonard, 'Brand China' by Joshua Cooper Ramo
Joshua Cooper Ramo
Joshua Cooper Ramo was a former senior editor and foreign editor of Time magazine and later Managing Director at Kissinger Associates, the consulting firm of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger...
, 'Voices from Iran' by Alex Bigham and 'A Global Alliance for Global Values' by Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
.
The FPC, in conjunction with Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
Television, set up an independent, cross-party Commission in 2007 tasked with producing a blueprint for Britain's future involvement in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The Iraq Commission Report was launched in a special programme on Saturday 14 July at 7.30 pm, televised on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, a first for a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
. The Commission was chaired by Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, Baroness Jay of Paddington and Lord King of Bridgwater.
The FPC has connections to the British Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
though works with all political parties. The current director (appointed in August 2010) is Josephine Osikena.