Diplomatic faux pas
Daniel Korski 3:33pm
There is now much talk of the need to grow the army or build more ships, even in times of economic distress, lest Britain slip down the scales of international importance. Britain is – and will remain – a world power. Not a superpower, of course, but one of three major powers in Europe, and one of only two with a military and diplomatic reach to complement economic and ideological clout. Britain will need to have military capability, including a nuclear capability, to remain powerful. But the one thing Britain will need above all else, especially if defense expenditures are set to fall and our military is loosing esteem in the eyes of the US, is a world-beating diplomatic presence.
Unfortunately, there is little discussion about boosting the Foreign Office under a new government. In fact, there is little sense that the Shadow Cabinet have given much thought to what its problems are and how to address them; I disagree with Will Inboden that the Tories’ talk of a National Security Council represents a serious administrative reform plan.
Meanwhile, the FCO has been cutting staff and the FCO lost much of its economic expertise just when it needed it most. In many embassies, the development representative was assumed to cover economic issues. But with DfiD’s focus on its poverty-alleviation programmes, this did not happen. Economic reporting has accordingly been scant. The conceit, however, allowed DfiD to assume control of Britain’s Africa policy and the International Development Secretary chairs the cabinet’s sub-committee on Africa.
Paradoxically, the FCO’s drive to swap geographical expertise for functional know-how created the greatest self-inflicted wound. Because politicians prefer to focus on thematic, campaigning issues that resonate with constituents — like conflict prevention or climate change — departments that deal with these policy areas have grown at the expense of specific country expertise. Today, you are more likely to find Britain’s real experts on a particular country at the London School of Economics or Chatham House than at their former employer, the FCO.
Looking to the US, however, it is clear in which direction the FCO needs to go. It needs to expand its staff considerably – perhaps by 20 percent - and rediscover what it used to do best: being a world-beating source of geographical expertise. To cover other policy areas, the FCO needs to bring more outside experts into the office on short-term secondments or expose all its London-based jobs to outside competition. Today, experts are the exception rather than the rule, even though the financial crisis shows that contemporary policy-making requires too much detailed knowledge about too many specialist subjects for generalists, however smart, to handle.
Then the FCO needs to look to Europe. The Lisbon treaty, which Irish voters look likely to approve, establishes a new European diplomatic corps. The FCO should take a lead in determining the organisation’s structure and remit, seconding top-flight diplomats to secure Britain’s influence in the start-up phase (if the Lisbon Treaty is passed). Closer to home, the FCO should then re-establish its policy primacy vis-à-vis other government departments, especially in Africa.
Finally, Britain’s diplomats need a strategic lodestar. Though these may be tough times for Britain, a new government must develop a coherent and unchanging narrative from which its emissaries can draw. Without such a narrative - or, worse, a constantly shifting set of strategic priorities - British foreign policy risks becoming a series of unconnected representations. Here a new foreign secretary should look to Mrs Clinton who has imbued the State Department with purpose and renewed self-respect. There would be no greater diplomatic faux pas than to let the Rolls Royce of diplomatic services — the FCO — decline just when Britain needs it.
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MartSharm
August 27th, 2009 4:45pm Report this commentYou've just loost some of my esteem.
Austin Barry
August 27th, 2009 5:07pm Report this comment"The Lisbon treaty, which Irish voters look likely to approve.."
Perhaps not. The Irish are angry beyond belief with the ruling coalition headed by the Quasimodo-like Brian Cowen whose unfortunate face seems to personify the corruption, venality and cupidity of the domestic political class in general and Fianna Fail in particular. I suspect given that contempt the electorate may relish the opportunity to vote 'No' again. On the other hand such is the mess these chancers have made of the Irish economy, the voters may prefer the cold comfort of the foreign trough-guzzlers in Brussels. A rock and a hard place indeed.
Chris
August 27th, 2009 5:08pm Report this commentYou're living in a dream world. The current government have got no idea. In a few short months we're going to get Hague, who will be completely useless (but he's very good at smart alec remarks, so the tories love him). He will refuse any constructive dialogue with our European partners and the Americans will refuse to take him in the least bit seriously.
And your view of the FCO is a bit optimistic isn't it? When have its "experts" ever been right about anything, at all, ever? We had to have a war because they ignored everyone else telling them the Argentines were about to invade the Falklands and their policy for most of the last fifty years has been to get up the backside of the Americans. The interests of the British people play no part in their thinking whatsoever.
Chuck Unsworth
August 27th, 2009 5:45pm Report this commentIt's all very well talking about boosting the FCO. Yes, it's urgently needed but no, not with the current hierarchy. Most of these senior civil servants are unwaveringly geared to NuLab and its politics.
What is needed is a return to a fiercely independent and impartial civil service. A wholesale clearing out is now necessary. Otherwise all we shall see is a change of flags of convenience.
Chris lancashire
August 27th, 2009 5:54pm Report this commentMr Korski, wonderful satire.
The FCO is definitely not a Rolls Royce although most of its overseas staff think they should have one.
They have consistently shown lack of foresight and a total lack of commerciality. In 10 years of commercial dealings in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, I found one - one - Second Sec Commercial worth employing.
We do not need any more upper middle class dilettantes in this service, we do need a significant improvement in quality.
bill
August 27th, 2009 5:57pm Report this commentFCO, LOL.
Robert Eve
August 27th, 2009 6:03pm Report this commentWe need to leave the EU - not help establish a new European diplomatic corps. Lisbon may still fail.
Jim
August 27th, 2009 6:03pm Report this commentMaybe we should hire Indian street children to teach our diplomats how to beg for food.
We are bankrupt, this is the end of our influence on the world. You will understand eventually, but it is going to take some time yet. Feel free to keep taking your pay cheque for writing this optimistic stuff though.
Jimmy
August 27th, 2009 7:23pm Report this commentWhy not just abandon the FCO and defer every last vestige of nationhood to the EU superstate.
We're no longer Britons, but Europeans.
The EU is already creeping into my home to snatch my lightbulbs. What next? One can only wonder...
Simon Stephenson
August 27th, 2009 7:46pm Report this commentChuck Unsworth : 5.45pm
"What is needed is a return to a fiercely independent and impartial civil service"
Too bloody right it is. What's also needed is an insistence that the civil service is given powers in the political process such that it can no longer be ignored and overruled by the feckless majority, as empowered through its popular representatives.
Edward
August 27th, 2009 7:54pm Report this comment"... to remain powerful" !!!!
REMAIN ????
"... a world-beating diplomatic presence" ???
Oh dear.
Time for some national self-awareness.
Jean Monnet
August 27th, 2009 8:33pm Report this comment(The think tank that employs Mr Korski is extremely pro-EU. Always remember this.)
I wonder if Mr K can answer this: if Britain surrenders her foreign embassies in favour of an EU one in every country, what line would the one in - say - Ankara take, given that the UK is pro-Turkish EU accession and France and Germany are not?
It's the little details like that which point up the problems with the great "European" "project". But if I were in its pay I'd overlook them too.
egh
August 27th, 2009 9:00pm Report this commentLord Haw Haw was more transparent than Korski; who, apart from being an eu mole, is a foreigner. Therefore his writing is at least offensive, at worst subversive.
He is, furthermore, either ignorant of the English language, or doing his bit to destroy it. That's why he persists in using expressions like "grow the army."
Jean Monnet
August 27th, 2009 9:34pm Report this commentFor those who would prefer to read the views of Mr Hannan on British foreign policy (and how it is hamstrung by Brussels), please follow this link:
http://tinyurl.com/korski-oops
HC
August 28th, 2009 12:36am Report this commentWe used to be big and important years ago but we aren't now. We are a small nation, with few natural resources, little space left and no manufacturing base.
Labour have finished off any good independent teaching through its target-driven mania.
So let us just be an okay country and not waste billions of more defensive monies that could grow the intellectual capital needed for us to have any chance in the world!
Jeremy
August 28th, 2009 1:19am Report this commentThe idea that the Americans provide an example of anything that is worth following would be laughable were it not, frankly, so obscene.
choppers
August 28th, 2009 8:02am Report this commentAre you the guy who makes helicopters? Cos you're sick korski.
Jack R
August 28th, 2009 9:57am Report this commentThe priorities for a UK government in defence terms:
1.) recognise who the enemy is;
2.) do not appease that enemy;
3.) provide enough finance, equipment and troops to protect the British people, and their interests from that enemy.
Daniel Korski
August 28th, 2009 10:05am Report this commentDear Jean Monnet and egh
Thanks for your comments.
I am not suggesting that the External Action Service take over the FCO. What I am saying is that in certain countries where the UK has some interests, but not a significant presence there will be benefits from working closely with European counterparts, including through a European diplomatic corps that will complement, rather than replace national foreign ministries. The Balkans is one example.
For the record, I work for a think-tank that receives no public funding from either governments or the EU.
Daniel
Richard Shackleton
August 28th, 2009 11:39am Report this commentCan we stop all this twaddle about a National Security Council? We've always had one..formerly known as the Cabinet Overseas and Defence Committee - now called:
"Ministerial Committee on National Security, International Relations and Development (NSID).
Composition:
Prime Minister (Chair)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (alternate Chair)
Secretary of State for the Home Department (alternate Chair)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor
Secretary of State for Defence; and Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Secretary of State for International Development
Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Minister for the Cabinet Office; and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Attorney General
Other Ministers, the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, the Heads of the Intelligence Agencies, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers may be invited to attend as required.
Terms of Reference
“To consider issues relating to national security, and the Government’s international, European and international development policies”
Less pining for The West Wing please!!!
JohnAnt
August 28th, 2009 1:54pm Report this commentDaniel, you say "I work for a think-tank that receives no public funding from either governments or the EU."
You refer presumably to the European Council on Foreign Relations?
Your profile is here:
http://www.ecfr.eu/content/profile/C22/
The Council's website address is:
www.ecfr.eu (surely an unfortunate choice of address, if it has nothing to do with the EU?)
Its apparently entirely EU-centred programmes are here:
http://www.ecfr.eu/content/entry/programmes/
To quote randomly from the first programme on the webpage:
"How can the European Union and its member countries increase their global reach? How should the EU pursue its interests and values through trade and aid policies? Can European civilian and military capabilities be deployed with greater effectiveness in the world’s conflict zones?"
So if the Council does not receive money from the EU,who is funding this EU-oriented organisation's work? The UK taxpayer?
Your special pleading for an expanded FCO could look - to a cynical reader - like the gizza-job propaganda of a career foreign policy wonk.
To many of us, the FCO is the very expensive problem to which it claims to be the solution.
John
August 28th, 2009 5:24pm Report this commentI honestly believed this was a spoof article and was gob-smacked to find this is well at least to the author a serious piece.
"The FCO is like a Rolls Royce", yes you are right out of date an anachronism of a past age staffed by thousands of people we never hear of but just seem to drive the latest Range Rovers in their embassies while looking down or treating a UK subject as something dirty bought in by the cat when asked for help.
Sorry but this is an appalling article written by someone who thinks more useless Civil Servants and even more bureaucracy will make Britain shine again as a beacon of competence sorry not from this Government and not from the awful Civil service we now have today
Andy
August 28th, 2009 7:34pm Report this commentWe successfully ran the Empire with a much smaller civil service than we've got now - yet your solution to our being broke as a country (and thus of little import on the world stage) is to expand one branch of it? The mind boggles.
Minnie Ovens
August 28th, 2009 8:03pm Report this commentOh Dear it's like being at prep school again.
Well Korski, maybe you'll do well at Common Entrance and get into an academic school like Wellington.
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