Research

The politics of globalisation

Globalisation has delivered many benefits. The greater movement of goods, capital and people has made the UK, and the world, richer and freer. But globalisation also brings challenges - climate change, cross-border crime and terrorism chief among them. How then can we harness the benefits of globalisation while negotiating its pitfalls? Liberalism, with its easy accommodation of both the market economics that drive globalisation and the internationalist politics needed to regulate it, is a creed tailor made for this challenge. 

Recent Publications:

Does Britain need a population policy? (January 2008)

Britain's population has suddenly become a topic of intense political debate. Net immigration is running at record levels, and new projections suggest Britain could experience a sharp rise in overall population over the next half century. The government is coming under increasing pressure to implement a population policy to curb growth in the medium to long term. But is such a policy necessary? And would it be effective?

Globalisation: A liberal response (October 2007)

Featuring contributions from Sir Samuel Brittan, Philippe Legrain, Philippe Sands QC, Professor Anatol Lieven, James Cameron, Lord (Paddy) Ashdown, Dr Vince Cable MP and others, this collection of essays sets out a strategy for harnessing the benefits of globalisation while negotiating its pitfalls.

From Boom to bust? Fertility, ageing and demographic change (March 2007)

All European countries have below replacement level fertility rates. A number of EU (and Asian) countries have begun to implement explicitly ‘pro-natal’ policies to try and increase fertility rates. Voices are now beginning to be heard in favour of a ‘family friendly’ approach – whether tax breaks, more subsidised childcare or enhanced maternity/paternity rights – to encourage higher fertility in the UK. This paper asks whether it is possible and desirable to stimulate the birth rate to help tackle demographic change. 

Trident Tested: what future for Britain's nuclear deterrent? (December 2006)

Britain’s existing nuclear weapon system, based around Trident D.5 missiles, is likely to reach the end of its operating life in the early to mid-2020s. The decision on whether to disarm, replace or extend Britain’s nuclear deterrent will need to be made by 2010. This paper asks what, if any, nuclear capability does Britain need, and whether Trident could meet such requirements? If not, how is the balance best struck between the strategic and political benefits of nuclear status, and the costs of that status – not only the cost of the programme, but the opportunity costs of conventional troops foregone, for example? Does the UK have legal obligations to disarm under the Non-Proliferation Treaty – and is nuclear disarmament a realistic or desirable goal?