World affairs by topic
World affairs includes the following topic areas. Please click the links to access lists of publications by topic:
Africa
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Queen’s Speech 2021: foreign affairs, defence and international development
At the Queen’s Speech on 11 May 2021, the Government will outline its legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session. This article considers what may be announced in the areas of foreign affairs, defence and international development.
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UK development aid and the Integrated Review
In the 2020 spending review, the Government cut aid spending from a target of 0.7% of GNI to 0.5%. The Government said in its recent integrated review of security, defence, development and foreign policy it would use aid spending “more strategically” to increase the UK’s impact as a force for good. On 28 April 2021, the House of Lords is due to debate the reduction in aid spending and its impact on achieving the integrated review’s objectives.
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Global gender equality in political life
As part of its sustainable development goals, the United Nations (UN) has called for women to achieve full and effective participation in political life by 2030. Currently, women account for 25.5% of national representatives worldwide. The UN has said that with the current rate of action gender parity will not be reached for another 130 years. This article considers which countries are leading on political gender parity and what barriers to full participation remain.
Americas
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Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy
The Government published the outcome of its year-long integrated review (IR) of foreign policy, defence, security and international development in March 2021. The IR sets out a strategic framework for achieving the UK’s national security and international policy objectives between now and 2025. The House of Lords is due to debate the IR on 22 April 2021.
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Global gender equality in political life
As part of its sustainable development goals, the United Nations (UN) has called for women to achieve full and effective participation in political life by 2030. Currently, women account for 25.5% of national representatives worldwide. The UN has said that with the current rate of action gender parity will not be reached for another 130 years. This article considers which countries are leading on political gender parity and what barriers to full participation remain.
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UK Bilateral Defence Cooperation
The Government has said that it intends to publish its integrated review on security, defence, foreign policy and development this month. As part of this, the Government is considering how the UK can work more effectively with its allies. The UK engages in various bilateral defence relationships. This article considers some of those relationships and highlights details of the integrated review.
Asia and Oceania
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Asian Youth Movements in the UK: history and legacy
The Asian Youth Movements formed in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, as second generation South Asian people mobilised against racism. Following on from our articles on Black Lives Matter and the early UK Black Panther movement, we take a closer look at their membership, their aims and campaigns, and their legacy within the UK today.
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Current Affairs Digest: World Affairs (May 2021)
Catch up on world affairs with a selection of articles you may have missed. Articles this month look at the crisis in Myanmar, and the state of gender equality around the world.
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Queen’s Speech 2021: foreign affairs, defence and international development
At the Queen’s Speech on 11 May 2021, the Government will outline its legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session. This article considers what may be announced in the areas of foreign affairs, defence and international development.
Defence
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United Nations Peacebuilding Fund
The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund is a financial instrument used by the United Nations (UN) to intervene or sustain peace in areas either in or at risk of conflict. This article details the financial support given by the UK Government to the fund and to other peacebuilding organisations.
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Queen’s Speech 2021: foreign affairs, defence and international development
At the Queen’s Speech on 11 May 2021, the Government will outline its legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session. This article considers what may be announced in the areas of foreign affairs, defence and international development.
-
Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy
The Government published the outcome of its year-long integrated review (IR) of foreign policy, defence, security and international development in March 2021. The IR sets out a strategic framework for achieving the UK’s national security and international policy objectives between now and 2025. The House of Lords is due to debate the IR on 22 April 2021.
Europe
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Queen’s Speech 2021: foreign affairs, defence and international development
At the Queen’s Speech on 11 May 2021, the Government will outline its legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session. This article considers what may be announced in the areas of foreign affairs, defence and international development.
-
Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy
The Government published the outcome of its year-long integrated review (IR) of foreign policy, defence, security and international development in March 2021. The IR sets out a strategic framework for achieving the UK’s national security and international policy objectives between now and 2025. The House of Lords is due to debate the IR on 22 April 2021.
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Global gender equality in political life
As part of its sustainable development goals, the United Nations (UN) has called for women to achieve full and effective participation in political life by 2030. Currently, women account for 25.5% of national representatives worldwide. The UN has said that with the current rate of action gender parity will not be reached for another 130 years. This article considers which countries are leading on political gender parity and what barriers to full participation remain.
Institutions
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Genocide: bringing perpetrators to justice
The global community has made commitments to combat and prevent crimes of genocide for several years. This article looks at what genocide is, international agreements to prevent genocide that the UK is signed up to, and recent parliamentary discussion during the Trade Bill.
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Current Affairs Digest: World Affairs (May 2021)
Catch up on world affairs with a selection of articles you may have missed. Articles this month look at the crisis in Myanmar, and the state of gender equality around the world.
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Covid-19 Vaccine: Access for low and middle income countries
Almost 200 Covid-19 vaccine candidates are currently being developed. However, only a tiny percentage of these will ever be mass-produced and distributed. Concerns around ‘vaccine nationalism’ have grown, as high-income countries pre-order hundreds of millions of vaccine doses. This article looks at this problem and examines what solutions are being put in place to ensure low and middle income countries receive adequate supplies of any successful Covid-19 vaccine.
International law
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Genocide: bringing perpetrators to justice
The global community has made commitments to combat and prevent crimes of genocide for several years. This article looks at what genocide is, international agreements to prevent genocide that the UK is signed up to, and recent parliamentary discussion during the Trade Bill.
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Professional Qualifications Bill [HL]: Briefing for Lords Stages
The Professional Qualifications Bill [HL] would make provisions relating to professional qualifications and their recognition in the UK. It is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 25 May 2021.
![Professional Qualifications Bill [HL]: Briefing for Lords Stages](https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Education-1232x924.jpg)
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Queen’s Speech 2021: international trade
Ahead of the Queen’s Speech on 11 May 2021, this In Focus sets out some of the Government’s current trade priorities and summarises policy issues that may be expected to develop over the next parliamentary session. This includes current trade negotiations, parliamentary scrutiny of agreements and the potential need for implementing legislation.
Middle East
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Queen’s Speech 2021: foreign affairs, defence and international development
At the Queen’s Speech on 11 May 2021, the Government will outline its legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session. This article considers what may be announced in the areas of foreign affairs, defence and international development.
-
UK development aid and the Integrated Review
In the 2020 spending review, the Government cut aid spending from a target of 0.7% of GNI to 0.5%. The Government said in its recent integrated review of security, defence, development and foreign policy it would use aid spending “more strategically” to increase the UK’s impact as a force for good. On 28 April 2021, the House of Lords is due to debate the reduction in aid spending and its impact on achieving the integrated review’s objectives.
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Current Affairs Digest: World Affairs (March 2021)
Catch up on world affairs with a selection of articles you may have missed. Articles this month include a look at faith in Nigeria, and the lasting impact of the Arab Spring.
