Ralph, J orcid.org/0000-0002-8402-678X, Gifkins, J and Jarvis, S orcid.org/0000-0002-1987-9751 (2020) The United Kingdom’s special responsibilities at the United Nations: Diplomatic practice in normative context. British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 22 (2). pp. 164-181. ISSN 1369-1481
Abstract
In a 2017 speech to the United Nations, Theresa May referred to the United Kingdom’s ‘special responsibilities’. This article examines how the United Kingdom can properly discharge those responsibilities at the United Nations. We offer an innovative analytical framework that merges English School theory of international society with diplomatic practice theory, and find that there are limits to the claim that the United Kingdom compensates for its relative material decline through diplomatic activism. We identify the special responsibility of the permanent member in terms of a capacity to reconcile the ‘concert’ and ‘governance’ functions of the Council, and to contribute materially to the achievement of governance objectives in areas where consensus is possible. Drawing on extensive interview data, and illustrating with reference to current debates on peacekeeping, we find that a state’s capacity to ‘punch above its weight’ diplomatically is linked to its material commitments and to a more inclusive approach in the Council.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2019. This is an author produced version of a paper published in British Journal of Politics and International Relations. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications. |
Keywords: | diplomatic practice, English school, peacekeeping, special responsibilities, UK foreign policy, United Nations |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law (Leeds) > School of Politics & International Studies (POLIS) (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number British Academy IC2/100081 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 09 Sep 2019 11:04 |
Last Modified: | 15 Dec 2020 12:09 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/1369148119887317 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:150553 |