Brexit and the UN security Council: Declining British influence?

Gifkins, J; Jarvis, S; Ralph, J

Brexit and the UN security Council: Declining British influence?

Gifkins, J

Jarvis, S Ralph, J

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Publisher:: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Affairs, 2019, 95, (6), pp. 1349-1368
Issue Date:: 2019-11-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Gifkins, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0551-787X
dc.contributor.author	Jarvis, S
dc.contributor.author	Ralph, J
dc.date.accessioned	2023-10-18T04:05:08Z
dc.date.available	2023-10-18T04:05:08Z
dc.date.issued	2019-11-01
dc.identifier.citation	International Affairs, 2019, 95, (6), pp. 1349-1368
dc.identifier.issn	0020-5850
dc.identifier.issn	1468-2346
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172792
dc.description.abstract	The United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union has ramifications beyond the UK and the EU. This article analyses the impact of the Brexit referendum on the UK's political capital in the United Nations Security Council; a dimension of Brexit that has received little attention thus far. Drawing on extensive elite interviews we show that the UK has considerable political capital in the Council, where it is seen as one of the most effective actors, but the reputational costs of Brexit are tarnishing this image. With case-studies on the UK's role in Somalia and Yemen we show how the UK has been able to further its interests with dual roles in the EU and Security Council, and the risks posed by tensions between trade and human rights after Brexit. We also analyse what it takes to be influential within the Security Council and argue that more attention should be paid to the practices of diplomacy. Influence is gained via penholding, strong diplomatic skill and a well-regarded UN permanent representative. The UK accrues political capital as a leader on the humanitarian and human rights side of the Council's agenda, but this reputation is at risk as it exits the EU.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Oxford University Press (OUP)
dc.relation.ispartof	International Affairs
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1093/ia/iiz205
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1605 Policy and Administration, 1606 Political Science
dc.subject.classification	International Relations
dc.subject.classification	4407 Policy and administration
dc.subject.classification	4408 Political science
dc.title	Brexit and the UN security Council: Declining British influence?
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	95
utslib.for	1605 Policy and Administration
utslib.for	1606 Political Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/School of International Studies
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-10-18T04:05:07Z
pubs.issue	6
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	95
utslib.citation.issue	6

Abstract:

The United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union has ramifications beyond the UK and the EU. This article analyses the impact of the Brexit referendum on the UK's political capital in the United Nations Security Council; a dimension of Brexit that has received little attention thus far. Drawing on extensive elite interviews we show that the UK has considerable political capital in the Council, where it is seen as one of the most effective actors, but the reputational costs of Brexit are tarnishing this image. With case-studies on the UK's role in Somalia and Yemen we show how the UK has been able to further its interests with dual roles in the EU and Security Council, and the risks posed by tensions between trade and human rights after Brexit. We also analyse what it takes to be influential within the Security Council and argue that more attention should be paid to the practices of diplomacy. Influence is gained via penholding, strong diplomatic skill and a well-regarded UN permanent representative. The UK accrues political capital as a leader on the humanitarian and human rights side of the Council's agenda, but this reputation is at risk as it exits the EU.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172792