Contemporary British Foreign Policy towards Asia

The course will survey the development and practice of contemporary British diplomacy towards Asia. It aims to provide insights into policy formation and delivery; challenges and dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region; Britain’s multilateral and bilateral diplomatic relations within the region, in the context Britain’s perceived global role. It will survey different fields of Britain’s diplomatic activity in Asia: traditional foreign policy; defence, intelligence and security engagement; development assistance; trade and investment; consular affairs and crisis management; cooperation in science and technology, cultural affairs and public diplomacy. It will examine key issues in Britain’s diplomatic relations with China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, South-East Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific. It will examine the relationship between Britain’s policy towards Asia and the policies of the US and Britain’s European allies, partners and competitors, and the framework provided by international organizations.
The course will address questions such as how Britain defines and seeks to pursue its interests in Asia, independently and with partners. How have Britain’s interests and objectives changed historically and how are they likely to change? What is the balance between traditional and non-traditional security concerns, and between bilateral interests and sustaining the international order and global commons? How well has Britain succeeded in projecting its global aspirations in Asia and effecting an ‘all of Asia’ policy? Is a further strategic ‘tilt to the Indo-Pacific’ achievable? What are the consequences for British diplomacy of the rise of China? What are the various interests and aspirations of Asian countries in their engagements with Britain, and how should Britain respond to them? What are the implications and the Covid-19 pandemic for Britain’s foreign policy and diplomatic practice?