Global Britain

'Great Britain has lost an empire but not yet found a role.' - Dean Acheson, 1962

What is a state's place in the world and what ends should it pursue? These are pivotal questions in strategy, but they are often poorly articulated and understood even by elites at the helm of foreign policy.

The United Kingdom has arguably been a country ill at ease with itself since the end of empire. However, over the past decades, the UK has found a niche role for itself as the Transatlantic Bridge between its most important allies, the European Union and the United States. Brexit shattered that strategic orientation and has again forced the UK to assess its place in the world.

In March 2021, the British Government finally articulated a strategic vision for post-Brexit Britain in the Integrated Review. The Integrated Review and subsequent documents have painted a picture of a 'Global Britain' which punches above its weight as a top tier middle power, heavily engaged in every major world region. In this new series, SDAFA will analyse the diplomatic, informational, military, and economic dimensions of this new Global Britain strategy and what it means for British foreign policy.