Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Paragraph: 18
Soft power is key to the UK’s international influence.
Recommendation
Soft power is key to the UK’s international influence. It is about much more than culture: the way it is used by some nations suggests it is the entire capability of the state short of war, for others it is the power of attraction. The Government must not become complacent about the UK’s advantages in this space, and the risk of their erosion. It should respond to the desire abroad for the UK to lead, and set a positive example, in new and innovative ways. We recommend that the Government publishes a coherent and credibly resourced soft power strategy. Given the range of contributors to UK soft power and the numbers of HMG Departments involved, we recommend that the Government gives an enhanced coordinating role to FCDO so that this strategy can be implemented in a cohesive and impactful way.
Paragraph Reference:
18
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
15.1 While we await publication of the Integrated Review, we would not want to prejudge its outcomes. We agree that the creation of FCDO provides an opportunity to enhance our impact on conflict resolution and atrocity prevention through the integration of our diplomatic and development levers and a stronger focus on mediation. 15.2 However, shifting the trajectory of violent conflicts, preventing atrocities and supporting conflict resolution, will require us to apply all of UK Government’s capabilities. UK Government, including with MoD. This will ensure that our various instruments, including our aid spend, are applied in greater concert with each other, building on the experience and cross-government collaboration established through the Stabilisation Unit, Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and the UN Peacekeeping Joint Unit. The creation of the FCDO will also make our role in conflict prevention and management more coherent. 15.3 We will also continue to shape international responses to conflict, as a burden-sharing partner, providing contributions that influence the efforts of others. To date, we have led international efforts to recalibrate the UN towards conflict prevention through the Secretary-General’s Sustaining Peace agenda, including through political leadership in New York during the Peacebuilding Architecture Review this year. Historically, we have been the largest donor to the Peacebuilding Fund since its inception, and remain among the top three donors, demonstrating positive burden sharing. Working closely with the MoD, we have also sought to inject UK expertise into key UN missions, and we have deployed UK staff in a number of strategic positions in key multilateral organisations, providing niche expertise on peacebuilding, conflict resolution and the humanitarian, peace and development nexus. The UK also routinely provides training support to improve the capabilities of UN police and troop-contributing countries deploying on peace operations. We also train 10,000 peacekeepers each year, principally in Africa, with partners such as Malawi (deploying peacekeepers to MONUSCO, Democratic Republic of Congo) and Zambia (deploying peacekeepers to MINUSCA, Central African Republic).