Policy - Foreign Affairs & Security

21st January 2012

"The New Falklands Conflict" Bow Group Chairman Q&A in La Razon

-The Argentine government has demanded renewed talks about the islands, which Argentina calls Las Malvinas. ¿Is this a provocation or the right decision?

The issue of the ownership of the Falkland Islands is one that has been resolved in bitter conflict, therefore the Argentine people clearly continue to feel dispossessed. The recent growth of the Argentine economy, and the the discovery of oil within the Falklands territory has given the debate renewed vigour in Argentina. We are, however, not in the era of Western history when governance of a land is decided by autocratic means, it is decided by the will of the people. It is therefore a decision of the people of the Falkland Islands as to who should govern them and under which nationality they should fall. It is apparent that they wish to remain a British territory.

1st December 2011

What happens in Spain, won’t stay in Spain.

Ben Harris-Quinney

The victory of the Partido Popular in the 20N Spanish general elections is good news for Spain, good news for Europe and good news for the UK......in theory. The Spanish economy needs emergency attention from responsible government

21st November 2011

Can change in Europe begin in Spain?

Ben Harris-Quinney

After 7 years of government the PSOE have been swept from power in Spain, but the greatest challenge for the opposition Partido Popular, perhaps in the history of the party, has only begun.

Mariano Rajoy begins the Presidency facing the record unemployment and debt that has been a feature of the Spanish economy for some years now, but also a recent rise in borrowing costs that served as the final tipping point to push the Greek and Italian economies into terminal status.

There will be no time to delay in implementing the economic plan that Spain will rely on to save itself. The lesson from the Coalition government in the UK of swift and determined application of a comprehensive programme of cuts will prove a highly relevant model for Spain.

There is much to suggest that the experience and character of President Rajoy and his government is well suited to the challenge, where Rajoy will struggle is finding his voice on the international stage which is increasingly crowded by strong voices keen to influence the future of the eurozone and global economy.

16th November 2011

They are doing their duty, but we aren't doing ours

Benjamin Harris-Quinney

Remembrance weekend is always a time where the issues faced by our service men and women come to the forefront of political debate.

This year’s remembrance day also marks a significant year for the future of our armed forces, and a crossroads from where the structure and relationship in the UK between the people, the military and the government will undergo significant change.

The last year has seen the implementation of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) and concurrently significant austerity measures applied to the armed forces. The most enduring process of change that will have begun in 2011 is the proposal being carried forward to enshrine the military covenant into law.

The Prime Minister, supported by his government, has been ever ready in robust praise and vocal support for the armed forces, That support however has not yet translated into action.

It is crucial that the British public and members of our armed forces make abundantly clear to our government exactly what is expected with regard to provision of resources and care in the enshrining of the military covenant into law.

13th November 2011

British and Spanish conservatives unite to condemn FIFA's attempt at a poppy ban

Ben Harris-Quinney

At Prime Minister's Questions earlier this week, two backbench Conservative MPs asked David Cameron to condemn FIFA's attempt to stop the English and Welsh national football teams from wearing poppies on their shirts during international matches this weekend.

The Prime Minister did condemn FIFA's stance, writing to Sepp Blatter, the governing body's President, to appeal against the move. Blatter accepted the strength of feeling in Britain, and allowed poppies to be worn on black armbands during the two matches.

England are playing against Spain this evening, and our conservative counterparts in that country, the Partido Popular (PP), backed opposition to FIFA's stance.

At the International Democrat Union conference earlier this week, David Cameron met with PP's Shadow Foreign Secretary, Jorge Moragas, and Mr Moragas was happy to show support for Britain's stance, posing for a photo with the Prime Minister.

12th November 2011

Foreigners to Foreign Policy: It’s Not a Woman’s World

Elizabeth Elfman

When journalist Micah Zenko attended a conference on U.S. foreign policy, he was surprised by the lack of women in the room. And being the journalist he is, he decided to research the facts on females in foreign policy. The results? So striking that he turned them into the essay “City of Men,” which was then published inForeign Policy.

So what are these facts? Women make up only 21% of the policy-related positions in America, and only 29% of leadership positions (directors, presidents, or fellows) in the field. When we sat down with Zenko, he put it simply: “Women make up 51% of the population, but represent less than a quarter of foreign policy positions.”

Historically, when they enter foreign policy at all, the experts we spoke with observed that women have tended to go into the “soft” power regions of policy—areas that focus on using economic and cultural influence over military strategy. A lack of familiarity with military terminology and hard power procedures, and a tradition of a highly male-dominated military body have served as a barrier to potential females looking to gain expertise in foreign policy.

26th October 2011

Germany Will Revert to Form

Ben Harris-Quinney

In September 2011 I published a paper with the Bow Group entitled The Eurozone and Germany - Crisis and Opportunity - Understanding Europe’s greatest power. Since its publication the eurozone has descended to a new level of crisis, and the Conservative Party has experienced a new wave of euroscepticism.

19th September 2011

The Eurozone & Germany, Crisis & Opportunity : Understanding Europe's Greatest Power

Ben Harris-Quinney & Christophe Scholer, with foreword from Dr Charles Tannock MEP

Whoever controls Berlin controls Germany, and whoever controls Germany controls Europe were among the most famous, and perhaps most useful, words of Karl Marx.

13th July 2011

The Ronald Reagan Centennial ~ 2011

Ben Harris-Quinney

The Bow Group took great pleasure in partnering with the Ronald Reagan Foundation for the unveiling of the statue of the 40th President of the United States in Grovsenor Square, and the celebration of his centennial year.