Documents to download

On 5 December 2014, the House of Lords is scheduled to debate the following motion:

“that this House takes note of the role of soft power and non-military options in conflict prevention”

This Library Note provides background reading for the debate in the House of Lords on 5 December 2014 on the role of soft power and non-military options in conflict prevention. It includes information on the different conflicts taking place across the World in the 21st Century and on some of the trends that have emerged over recent years in the types of conflicts being fought. It also provides information on soft power and non-military action, using the definition of soft power developed by the House of Lords Select Committee on Soft Power and the UK’s Influence. The Note goes on to summarise the policies of the United Nations, the European Union, the Commonwealth and the UK Government that are intended to prevent conflict. This includes information on the Government’s attempts to target aid towards fragile states and its use of the Conflict Pool. It also includes a summary of parliament scrutiny of the effectiveness of the Government’s current policies, and recent policy proposals from the Opposition.

Documents to download

Related posts

  • UK-EU relationship and the war in Ukraine: Lords committee report

    The House of Lords European Affairs Committee welcomed the EU and UK response to the war in Ukraine “in general terms”. In its January 2024 report, the committee said some areas of UK-EU cooperation had been broadly effective. The committee said the report’s aim was to consider a longer-term approach and make recommendations to strengthen the UK-EU response. It called for more formal arrangements in several security and foreign policy areas.

    UK-EU relationship and the war in Ukraine: Lords committee report

  • Women, Peace and Security Bill [HL]: HL Bill 20 of 2024–25

    The Women, Peace and Security Bill [HL] is a short private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative). The bill would require the secretary of state to have regard to the UK’s national action plan on women, peace and security (NAP) when formulating and implementing policy on foreign affairs, defence or related matters. The bill includes provisions requiring the government to report to Parliament annually on the progress made in implementing the NAP. It also requires considerations the government must have regard to when participating in multi-national organisations such as the United Nations. The bill was introduced on 4 September 2024 and is scheduled to have its second reading on 15 November 2024. The bill would extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It would come into force on the day the legislation was passed.

    Women, Peace and Security Bill [HL]: HL Bill 20 of 2024–25

  • Threat posed by Hezbollah

    Hezbollah is an armed Shiite militia group, backed by Iran, which exerts considerable influence in Lebanon. It has been a proscribed in its entirety by the UK as a terrorist organisation since 2019. The current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel continues. Hezbollah has fired rockets at Israeli territory whilst Israel has launched retaliatory airstrikes—including that which saw the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah—and has launched an armed incursion into southern Lebanon. The UK has called for an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement.

    Threat posed by Hezbollah