Global Reordering
The Global Reordering research theme focuses on the security challenges that emerge from the ongoing transformation and reproduction of international order, in a world characterised by rising powers, populism, and pandemics. Global reordering processes have the potential to disrupt existing hierarchies of power, restructure international institutions, and redefine the social categories of international affairs. Our expertise on changing global orders includes work on International Law, the rise of China, the changing roles of Europe and the UK in international politics, and the increasing prominence of Aukus and the Anglosphere. Our partners in this work include the UK Ministry of Defence, UNA-UK, the Foreign Policy Centre, and the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Network.
This theme intersects with the work of other POLIS research centres in areas such as atrocity prevention (European Centre for the Responsibility to Protect), the political implications of Brexit (Centre for Democratic Engagement) and the emergence of hybrid political regimes in the developing world (Centre for Global Development). This research theme is led by Dr Kingsley Edney.
AUKUS, Global Britain, and the Anglosphere
The rise of China
as the public opinion and media responses they generate in the United Kingdom.
Funded collaborative work with researchers in the UK and China has led to
several publications and an ongoing international research network. In addition
to current work on British narratives and attitudes, this network has produced an
original dataset of Chinese public opinion containing questions about politics and
international relations that have never been asked in any previous survey in
China. An innovative mediation analysis of this data shows how perceptions of
the United States, Russia, Japan, and North and South Korea affect respondent
perceptions of international friendship with these states.
A changing Europe
security and diplomatic strategy is shifting in response to a post-Brexit world.
Winn's work investigates the EU's management of global security challenges, producing articles on EU defence and security cooperation in the context of Brexit, on EU grand strategy and strategy in Somalia. Ralph's recent research into Britain's post-Brexit role on the UN Security Council was funded by the British Academy and produced a report published by the United Nations Association of the UK that was presented to officials from the Foreign Office and House of Lords. Prof Ralph has also written about the war in Ukraine. Honeyman's extensive media and impact work has recently extended to co-authoring the Foreign Policy Centre's 'Finding Britain’s role in a changing world: Projecting the UK’s values abroad'. This publication sets out a wide range of ideas for how the UK can support and promote its values in its foreign policy.