UK Foreign Policy Research Guide
By Toby Greene

CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION

BRITISH GOVERNMENT: OFFICIAL SOURCES

1.THE PRIME MINISTER
2.FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
3.HOME OFFICE (COUNTER-TERRORISM)
4.TREASURY
5.DEPARTMENT fOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
6.DEPARTMENT FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY
7.HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
8.BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY AND THE EU

THINK TANKS

ACADEMIC RESOURCES

MIDDLE EAST LOBBIES

INTRODUCTION
UK foreign policy, while balancing its position in the EU but with its firm backing for the United States, has been particularly interesting for Middle East researchers in recent years. The aim of this guide is to introduce some of the internet resources available to those conducting research on contemporary UK foreign policy, with a particular focus on the Middle East. Following Gordon Brown’s taking over the reigns as prime minister from Tony Blair on June 27, 2007, policy analysts will be watching keenly for any signs of a change in policy.

British Government: Official Sources
The British government increasingly makes its publications, policies, and activities accessible via the internet. However, while the websites are often comprehensive and helpful, the volume of information available can make finding what one wants a real challenge. This section includes links to some of the more useful government resources.


THE PRIME MINISTER
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair continued a process that began with Margaret Thatcher by centralizing key foreign policy decision making under the control of the prime minister. The prime minister is frequently required to define and defend his position in public—either in speeches, press conferences, or parliamentary debates. All of the prime minister’s public statements are available on the net. The official website of the prime minister, http://www.number-10.gov.uk, includes links to press releases, statements, speeches, interviews, press conferences, and press briefings, all available from the online “Media Centre,” http://www.number-10.gov.uk/mediacentre. Broadcasts of major speeches and Prime Minister’s Question Time are also available: http://www.number-10.gov.uk/broadcasts. Coverage of the main issues being addressed by the Prime Minister, with a heavy emphasis on foreign policy, is provided in “the Big Issues” section: http://www.number-10.gov.uk/bigissues.

Key foreign policy speeches made by Blair are available including his 1999 Chicago speech on the doctrine of the international community, http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page1297.asp, and his August 2006 Los Angeles speech on tackling an “arc of extremism,” http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page9948.asp. Though the setup and content of the Prime Minister’s website may change once Gordon Brown has settled into Number 10.
By British political convention, the official Number 10 website does not include party political speeches, such as party conference speeches. The Guardian newspaper, however, has special reports, including transcripts of Blair’s speeches for party conferences going back to 2001: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/specialreports. Researchers may be interested, for example, in Blair’s “We were with you at the first, we will stay with you to the last” speech, given at the Labour party conference shortly after September 11: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labourconference2001/story/0,1220,561985,00.html.

Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown is Blair’s successor as prime minister and leader of the Labour party. He has recently begun to branch out from his interest in issues, such as third world debt, to take a broader stance on international affairs. A list of his speeches can be found at the UK Treasury website: p://www.hm-thttp://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/speeches/chancellorexchequer/speech_chex_index.cfm. Brown’s October 2006 speech to Chatham House on tackling terrorism can also be found at the Chatham House website: http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/index.php?id=213&cid=417&type=meeting. The Chancellor of the Exchequer also took a special interest in economic aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process during the UK’s presidency of the G8 in 2005: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./consultations_and_legislation/middle_east/consult_middleeast_index.cfm. However, this cooled somewhat following the election of Hamas in January 2006.

The Leader of the Opposition: David Cameron
A general election could be called by the incumbent prime minister for any time before May 2010. As part of his bid to defeat Labour, leader of the opposition Conservative party, David Cameron, has also begun to outline a foreign policy profile. The Conservative party’s “National and International Security Policy Group” has a dedicated website, http://www.oursecuritychallenge.com, which includes Cameron’s September 2006 speech on his foreign policy doctrine of “Liberal Conservatism.”


FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is officially responsible for the formulation and implementation of UK foreign policy. The Foreign Office website, http://www.fco.gov.uk, makes available all press releases, speeches, and statements from the Foreign Office and its team of ministers, including a searchable database going back to 1997, http://www.fco.gov.uk/news. Information about the department itself, the Secretary of State, and the other ministers is also available: http://www.fco.gov.uk/aboutus.

For a quick overview of the Foreign Office’s official position on “priority areas,” and bilateral relations with individual states, visit: http://www.fco.gov.uk/policy. A special area is dedicated to the Middle East Peace Process: http://www.fco.gov.uk/mepp. “Q and A” to “FAQs” is provided for high profile policy areas, including the Middle East Peace Process: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1019745064429.

Official statements of government foreign policy are issued as “White Papers” (also known as “Command Papers”) and are also available from the website. These include the major policy statement on the UK’s international priorities issued in 2003 and updated in 2006:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1068721687493. Other policy papers on more specific subjects, including Iran and Iraq, are also available: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1014918994379. The FCO produces a series of annual reports including an extensive global human rights report, available for downloading: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029395384.

For those engaged in more historical research, the FCO produces ad-hoc publications on post-war British Foreign Policy and occasional research papers. A list of available publications can be found on the website along with copies of international treaties: http://www.fco.gov.uk/documents.

Since 2005, members of the public in Britain are entitled to request government documents under the Freedom of Information Act. Information about Foreign Office material made public in this way is available on the FCO website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/foi.

The Foreign Office provides online advice regarding foreign travel to individual countries: http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel. You can also find contact details, including links for all British embassies overseas, http://www.fco.gov.uk/embassies, as well as foreign embassies in London, http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029396086.


HOME OFFICE (COUNTER-TERRORISM)
The Home Office is responsible for Britain’s domestic counter-terrorism strategy, a subject of intense scrutiny following the terror attacks in London in 2005. A special website has been created to provide information about the Home Office Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence Directorate (CTID), http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/, including a publications archive that can be browsed by subject, http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-publications1/.

The Terrorism Act (2000) allowed for the proscription of international terrorist organizations under UK law. More about this and the list of groups proscribed is on the Home Office website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/proscribed-groups. Gaps between UK and EU positions can be identified by comparing this list to the list of groups proscribed by the EU, made available by “Statewatch”: http://www.statewatch.org/terrorlists/thelists.html.

Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, the Security Service (MI5), recently adopted a higher public profile, providing limited information about its history and activities on the internet: http://www.mi5.gov.uk. Do not expect to find James Bond’s email address though; he works for foreign intelligence, also known as the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), http:///www.mi6.gov.uk, and they provide even less information about themselves than MI5.


TREASURY
The UK Treasury, http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/, links into UK foreign policy at various points. Areas covered online include the prevention of terrorist funding, http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/international_issues/terrorist_financing, and international development, http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/international_issues/international_development.


DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Department for International Development was created in 1997 to run Britain’s foreign aid and development program. Its website, http://www.dfid.gov.uk, makes information about its programs available though country profiles, http://www.dfid.gov.uk/countries/allcountries.asp?view=region, a searchable press release archive, http://dfid.gov.uk/news, and a searchable archive of policy and research publications, http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs.


DEPARTMENT FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Information about the UK’s trade policy, including strategic export controls, trade barriers, regional trade, and developing countries is available in a section of the Department for Trade and Industry’s website: http://www.dti.gov.uk/europeandtrade/index.htm.


HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
The prime minister answers oral questions on the floor of the House every Wednesday at 12:00 pm. This weekly verbal scrap makes surprisingly good television and can be watched live on the internet, along with all sessions of the House of Commons and House of Lords and some Select Committee hearings at: http://www.parliamentlive.tv. This site has a searchable database of proceedings over the past few weeks.

“Hansard,” the official record of proceedings in the Houses of Parliament, is available online, http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/pahansard.html, and is searchable via the UK Parliament’s POLIS system, http://www.polis.parliament.uk/. Full transcripts of proceedings of the floor of both houses, answers to parliamentary questions, and ministerial statements are usually available within 24 hours. For example, entering “Iraq” in the “Free Text” field and “Blair/Tony” in the “Member” field should bring up Tony Blair’s parliamentary statements on Iraq. However, this database is not always reliable and it is worth doing a number of searches with a range of terms to explore what is available.

Each government department, including the Foreign Office, takes oral questions in the House of Commons every few weeks on a rotation basis. The schedule, known as the “Order of Oral questions,” is available online, http://www.parliament.uk/about_commons/questions.cfm, as is a preview of the questions that will be asked (usually a few days in advance), http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmordbk.html. Middle East issues invariably come up during Foreign Office questions.

Each government department is scrutinized by a cross-party House of Commons Select Committee. Each committee makes its proceedings, reports, and government responses to their reports available online. An interesting example is the Foreign Affairs Committees report on “Foreign Policy Aspects of the War Against Terrorism,” and the Government’s official response: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmfaff/cmfaff.htm.

Links to relevant Committees are as follows:
· Foreign Affairs: http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/foreign_affairs_committee.cfm
· International Development: http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/international_development.cfm
· Trade and Industry: http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/trade_and_industry.cfm
· Home Affairs: http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/home_affairs_committee.cfm
· Defence: http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/defence_committee.cfm
· Quadripartite Committee (Committee on Strategic Export Controls): http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/quad.cfm
· Liaison Committee (Consisting of the Chairs of all the Select Committees, periodically takes evidence from the Prime Minister): http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/liaison_committee.cfm

Back Bench MPs often express their views in the form of EDMs (Early Day Motions), which function as parliamentary petitions signed by MPs. EDMs dating back to 1997 can be searched for using an online database: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/search.aspx. For example, names of the 184 MPs who signed an EDM condemning the “continued building of the Israeli barrier where it falls in occupied territory” can be found by selecting session “05-06” and searching by “Israel.”

Researchers who just can’t get enough of UK parliamentary proceedings can subscribe to email updates on forthcoming parliamentary activity: http://subscriptions.parliament.uk/service/subscribe. If all that is not enough, one can subscribe to email updates from all government departments using the “Wired-GOV” service: http://www.wired-gov.net. Press releases for UK government departments are also made available centrally at the “Government News Network” (GNN): http://www.gnn.gov.uk. The Office of Public Sector Information, http://www.opsi.gov.uk, provides a centralized, comprehensive list of official, public sector documents, including links to the documents in some cases.


BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY AND THE EU
British foreign policy is linked to the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union: http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/cfsp/intro/index.html. The EU provides very extensive online resources on its foreign policy. These include the Middle East Peace Process, http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/mepp/index.html; the Euro-Mediterranean/Barcelona Process (the EU’s economic and political development program for the Middle East), http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/mepp/index.html; and non-proliferation: http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/cfsp/npd/index.html. Country profiles covering EU relations with individual states are also available: http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/search/countries.htm.

THINK TANKS
There are a number of UK-based think tanks and research centers dedicated to foreign policy. The world-famous Chatham House (Royal Institute for International Affairs), http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/, conducts research on a wide range of international topics, producing many research papers and publications. They frequently host international speakers and seminars, including senior serving ministers in the British government. Many of its publications and reports on events are available online, however, some of it is restricted to members. A reduced rate “E-membership” costs around £50 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/index.php?id=23. Information about the Middle East program is available on the Middle East homepage: http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/middleeast. Some Chatham House meetings are of course subject to the famous “Chatham House Rule,” a definition of which can also be found on the website: http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/rule.

The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), http://iiss.org, conducts worldwide research into political-military conflict. Its research program is organized by regions, one of which is “the Gulf and Middle East,” http://www.iiss.org/programmes/the-gulf-and-middle-east. Its journals, Survival, and Strategic Comments, are available online to subscribers.

Newer foreign policy research institutes include the Foreign Policy Centre, http://fpc.org.uk/, which was established under the patronage of Tony Blair and is closely associated with “New Labour.” Its publications are available for downloading, http://fpc.org.uk/publications/, and include Tony Blair’s September 2006 pamphlet, “A Global Alliance for Global Values.” The FPC established the “Civility” program on western strategies for political reform in the Middle East, http://fpc.org.uk/topics/civility/, which has its own dedicated website, http://www.civility.org.uk.

With a similar background to the FPC, is the Institute for Public Policy Research, which is the largest of the UK’s left-leaning think tanks and also has associations with New Labour. It has recently extended its scope to international policy, http://www.ippr.org.uk/international, including a focus on the Middle East. Its publications on international affairs are available for download, http://www.ippr.org.uk/research/teams/publications.asp?id=96&tID=96.

Looking towards European policy, the London-based Centre for European Reform, http://www.cer.org.uk, has research programs in EU Foreign Policy, Security and Defense policy, and Middle East Policy. It is also a member of the Arab Reform Initiative, http://www.arab-reform.net/, a consortium of Middle Eastern and Western think tanks seeking to develop a program for democratic reform in the Middle East. Many of its publications and papers are available for download, some for a small fee.

Other UK-based think tanks with relevant online resources include the Royal United Services Institute, http://www.rusi.org, a long established research center linked to the UK defense establishment. Also worth a look is the International Security Information Service – Europe, http://www.isis-europe.org, a Belgium-based research group focused on EU and NATO policy. The British American Security Information Council, http://www.basicint.org, promotes understanding of foreign policy formation in the UK and the United States. The Henry Jackson Society, http://www.henryjacksonsociety.org, is a new organization promoting an interventionist UK foreign policy, and the Globlisation Institute, http://www.globalisationinstitute.org, focuses on free market trade and international development.

A fuller list of UK think tanks with profiles is provided by The Guardian: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/thinktanks.

ACADEMIC RESOURCES
There are many centers for the study of International Relations, Foreign Policy, and Middle Eastern studies at UK universities. It is impossible to list them all, but some useful portals to UK academic resources are available. The Political Studies Association, http://www.psa.ac.uk, includes a database of UK political studies departments. The British International Studies Association, http://www.bisa.ac.uk, has a working group on British Foreign Policy that provides information about their members and events on their website: http://www.british-foreign-policy.org. The website for the “Network of research and teaching on European Foreign Policy” (FORNET) has links to sites focusing on EU foreign policy: http://www.fornet.info/links. The London Middle East Institute, http://www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/ has a database of UK Middle East experts accessible to its members. Researchers interested in UK research funding can visit the sites of the main UK academic funding bodies. These are the Arts and Humanities Research Council, http://www.ahrb.ac.uk and the Economic and Social Research Council, http://www.esrc.ac.uk.

MIDDLE EAST LOBBIES
A number of Parliamentary groups research and lobby specifically on Middle East Policy. Those that provide information about their activities and publications online include Labour Friends of Israel, http://www.lfi.org.uk; Conservative Friends of Israel, http://www.cfoi.uk; and the pro-Arab Labour Middle East Council, http://www.lmec.org.uk.

Finally, extra-parliamentary campaign groups also lobby and research on UK policy towards the Middle East. The Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM), http://www.bicom.org.uk; emails daily reviews of all Israel-related UK media coverage to its subscribers. The Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU), http://www.caabu.org, provides information about its activities on the net, as does the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), http://www.palestinecampaign.org.

Toby Greene is a political researcher and analyst currently based in Jerusalem. He is the former Head of Policy and Research for the UK parliamentary campaign group, Labour Friends of Israel and is researching his Ph.D. on the impact of terrorism on UK policy towards the Arab-Israeli conflict. http://www.tobygreene.net.