This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the debate in the House of Lords on 1 July on recent developments in Syria, the Middle East, and North Africa.
This Library Note provides background information about the Prime Minister’s stated priorities for the G8 meeting to be held in Northern Ireland on 17–18 June: advancing trade, improving tax compliance and promoting greater transparency.
Afghanistan lies at the heart of Central Asia. Since the invasion by Western-led forces in 2001, its relationships with its regional neighbours have been mixed: at times characterised by co-operation, at others by competing national interests. This Note explores those relationships in the context of Afghanistan’s current security, political and economic situation, focusing particularly on key actors such as Pakistan and efforts to encourage dialogue and co-operation, and examines the potential impact of these regional dynamics on Afghanistan’s future stability and prosperity.
This Library Note provides a short history of Prime Ministerial speeches on Europe since 1970; outlines Government policy towards Europe since 2010; summarises David Cameron’s speech and selected reaction to it; and considers some aspects of the proposed renegotiation and referendum. It concludes with information about trends in public opinion towards Britain’s membership of the EU.
This Library Note provides a brief summary of recent developments in selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as a table of statistical information covering the whole of the region.
This Library Note provides a brief summary of recent developments in Egypt, Iran, Israel/Palestine, Libya and Syria, as well as a table of statistical information covering the whole of the Middle East and North Africa.
This Library Note provides an overview of the blockade of Gaza by the Government of Israel, including its history, attempts to bypass the blockade and recent developments. It then examines the impact of the blockade on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and finally the response of the British Government.
This Library Note provides an overview of the situation of Dalits in South Asia and looks at the issue of caste-based discrimination in India. It also examines the Government’s international development policy for India, currently the largest recipient of UK development aid.
This Library Note provides background information for the debate on 8 September 2011 on the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the role of the Commonwealth
This Library Note provides background reading for the debate on the political situation in Chechnya and the North Caucasus, and its implications for global security.
This Library Note provides background information for the debate on 28 April 2011 on co-ordination between Government departments on the use of soft power.