-
-
Research Briefing
Libya
New interim government chosen after Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was ousted from office. New elections promised for July 2014. The country is plagued by violence and fighting. Fighting is often over the country’s huge oil wealth. Distinction between official security forces and unlawful militias is blurred.
-
-
Research Briefing
UK ratifies the Arms Trade Treaty
The Foreign Office announced late yesterday that the UK has ratified the Arms Trade Treaty. The Treaty provides, for the first time, an international legal and regulatory framework for the arms trade which respects international humanitarian law and human rights. 17 other states also ratified the treaty on 2 April, which means that 31 states
-
-
Research Briefing
UK hits the 0.7% aid target
Provisional statistics published today suggest that the UK has met its target to spend 0.7% of gross national income on aid in 2013. The only major countries to spend at least 0.7% of their gross national income on aid in 2012 were Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Finland achieved 0.7% once, in 1991.
-
-
Research Briefing
Britain’s role in UN peacekeeping operations
The United Kingdom has long been an active contributor to UN peacekeeping missions – operations led by the United Nation’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). The UK is the fifth-highest provider of assessed contributions to the UN peacekeeping budget (2013-15), behind the US, Japan, France and Germany. There have been 68 UN peacekeeping missions since 1948;
-
-
Research Briefing
The latest round of Israeli/Palestinian talks, 2013-14
Attitudes to US Secretary of State's drive to revive the Middle East peace process have generally been pessimistic. Is that justified?
-
Research Briefing
Is adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights a condition of European Union membership?
This Note looks at what the EU Treaties say about adherence to human rights provisions and considers different views on the compatibility of withdrawal from the European Convention with continued EU membership.
-
Research Briefing
Democratic Republic of Congo: a gathering momentum towards peace?
The Special Representative of UN Secretary-General on Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Martin Kohler – who is also the head of the UN mission, MONUSCO – has claimed that there is a “new momentum” behind efforts to stabilise the country. This note briefly surveys the DRC's current trajectory.
-
Research Briefing
EU bibliographies: posting of workers enforcement
This Note brings together documents relevant to the proposed “posting of workers enforcement directive” and its scrutiny in the UK and EU. It is not an attempt to define policy in this area. For information on policy developments contact Jacqueline Parker on extn 4317
-
Research Briefing
Prospects for Afghanistan as ISAF withdrawal approaches
2014 is a pivotal year for Afghanistan, with a crucial presidential election in April and the end of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat mission in December. Security overall is deteriorating in Afghanistan and although the Afghan National Security Forces are taking the lead, questions remain about their effectiveness and the government’s dependence on international help to pay for them. It is unclear whether there will be any Western military presence after 2014. Negotiations with the Taliban do not seem to offer much hope.
-
Research Briefing
Ukraine, Crimea and Russia
In 2014 Russian-backed forces took over the Crimean autonomous assembly, which subsequently declared independence from Ukraine.
Total results (page 142 of 184)