What were the ideas of the Blair government’s ‘doctrine of international community’ and who were the main actors of this?
What were the ideas of the Blair government’s ‘doctrine of international community’ and who were the main actors of this?
The ‘doctrine of international community’ was first outlined at a speech to the Economic Club of Chicago in 1999. Blair emphasised the increasing significance of globalisation and interdependence, as he looked to create a new post-Cold War framework. This would focus on the ‘notion of community,’ with the belief that global problems can’t be solved individually (Blair, 1999). At the time of NATO’s intervention in Kosovo, Blair used the speech to reassert the need for international organisations to address problems both jointly and collaboratively.
The ‘doctrine of international community’ has been regarded as ‘one of the most theoretical speeches on foreign policy ever given by a British Prime Minister’ (Cox & Oliver, 2006, p. 176). With some saying the that it ‘hardly qualifies as a fully worked out doctrine’ (Cronin, 2004, p. 451). Firstly, this essay will look at the core ideas that formed Blair’s ‘notion of community:’ values, globalisation, the importance of institutions and international intervention (Blair, 1999). The second part will consider the key actors, by looking at the role of both military and economical institutions in the ‘international community’ (Blair, 1999),
The first aspect was Blair’s belief that the doctrine should fundamentally concern values. This was based on Blair’s interpretation of the way globalised interdependence was thought to operate, as ‘idealism becomes realpolitik’ (Blair, 2007). In the speech, Blair outlined these values as ‘liberty, the rule of law, human rights and an open society,’ forming the basis of Blair’s international community (Blair, 1999). These values justify a democratic society based upon rights and liberal economic freedoms, something Blair felt was essential in achieving a peaceful yet independent world. He also proposes to ‘establish’ and ‘spread’ these values as a strategy
The ‘doctrine of international community’ was first outlined at a speech to the Economic Club of Chicago in 1999. Blair emphasised the increasing significance of globalisation and interdependence, as he looked to create a new post-Cold War framework. This would focus on the ‘notion of community,’ with the belief that global problems can’t be solved individually (Blair, 1999). At the time of NATO’s intervention in Kosovo, Blair used the speech to reassert the need for international organisations to address problems both jointly and collaboratively.
The ‘doctrine of international community’ has been regarded as ‘one of the most theoretical speeches on foreign policy ever given by a British Prime Minister’ (Cox & Oliver, 2006, p. 176). With some saying the that it ‘hardly qualifies as a fully worked out doctrine’ (Cronin, 2004, p. 451). Firstly, this essay will look at the core ideas that formed Blair’s ‘notion of community:’ values, globalisation, the importance of institutions and international intervention (Blair, 1999). The second part will consider the key actors, by looking at the role of both military and economical institutions in the ‘international community’ (Blair, 1999),
The first aspect was Blair’s belief that the doctrine should fundamentally concern values. This was based on Blair’s interpretation of the way globalised interdependence was thought to operate, as ‘idealism becomes realpolitik’ (Blair, 2007). In the speech, Blair outlined these values as ‘liberty, the rule of law, human rights and an open society,’ forming the basis of Blair’s international community (Blair, 1999). These values justify a democratic society based upon rights and liberal economic freedoms, something Blair felt was essential in achieving a peaceful yet independent world. He also proposes to ‘establish’ and ‘spread’ these values as a strategy
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