Following the events in the Middle East, I have proposed a democracy review of UK
bilateral relations and former Europe minister Denis MacShane has suggested that David Cameron set up a Foundation for Democracy Development in the Middle East and North Africa to “provide an
all-party source of income, travel grants, and overseas seminars”
It would make sense, I think, to do both in succession, starting with the review and then creating a new body that can undertake the work. However, instead of creating a UK-only organisation, the government should build on the links established with Turkey’s government and set up a joint endeavour, chaired by William Hague and Ahmet Davatoglu, the Foreign Secretary’s counterpart. Many countries in North Africa are looking to Turkey as an example to follow and a UK-only initiative will be less effective.
But such a move will not be enough. Unless the promotion of democracy is to remain a speech, Prime Minister will need to organise the machinery of government. For, as Martin Ivens points out in the Sunday Times, the new National Security Council has looked decidedly less effective in the last couple of weeks.
My idea that the Prime Minister appoint a Freedom Minister led nowhere; but as No 10 reorganises the Policy Unit perhaps it would be worthwhile appointing someone as a Democracy Adviser; not to cover the waterfront of foreign policy issues, but to focus on this agenda. Overseeing the Democracy Foundation would be a key task, perhaps alongside a counterpart from Prime Minister Recyp Erdogan’s office who could liaise with each other constantly. As for a Chief Executive, what about Lord Trimble? Or Sir Kieran Prendergast?
Critically, the review should not be a one-off event by an annual or five-yearly product drafted by the government with the help of MPs and with input from a range of stakeholders including NGOs. The government should institute a freedom award, awarded annually to someone deemed at having taken or promoted steps towards opening societies and liberalising economies. It could be named the Macmillan Award after the Tory prime minister’s “Winds of Change” speech.
Government will quickly slip back into its old habits with the FCO keen to maintain bilateral links. A system would at least keep the focus on democracy going.
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