Hard Choices: What Britain Does Next

by Peter Ricketts

A groundbreaking exploration of the difficult decisions Britain faces outside the EU in a fast-changing world. After decades of peace and prosperity, the international order put in place after World War II is rapidly coming to an end. Disastrous foreign wars, global recession, the meteoric rise of China and India and the COVID pandemic have undermined the power of the West's international institutions and unleashed the forces of nationalism and protectionism. In this lucid and groundbreaking analysis, one of Britain's most experienced senior diplomats highlights the key dilemmas Britain faces, from trade to security, arguing that international co-operation and solidarity are the surest ways to prosper in a world more dangerous than ever.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

272 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2022

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are living at a time when the great flows of history are changing. The international order established after World War II - assisted in its creation by Great Britain - is starting to become dysfunctional. It no longer reflects the international order as it is today. The European Union, itself a by-product of the Post War period, has started to travel along the path of greater integration. In an act of exceptionalism, Britain has decided not to be part of that process. And so we are left at a point in time where the old orders are not working as well as they did and Britain has cut herself from the collective safety net of the EU. What should Britain do next?

That is the question this book addresses. It does so in three parts: how did we get to where we are? What are our options for the future? Which hard choices need we to make fairly soon? In answering each of these questions, the author brings a lifetime of experience and knowledge to his views. The short answer to each of these questions is that we are currently in a bit of a pickle. And yet, there could be a way out.

If we had to identify a point in time when we started to get into a pickle, the author makes a good case that it all started to go wrong in 2003 with the intervention in Iraq. He views this as an ill considered war, where our core national interests were not threatened, and which started to show a division from our then European partners. That fault was rendered further by Cameron compounding Blair's mistake by putting short term party considerations ahead of the long term interests of the country. Cameron gambled on a Brexit vote, and lost. This has left us adrift from Europe and, owing to a change in circumstances in Washington, with not much to show for it. The author makes a convincing case that Britain is currently at it's weakest point for many decades, if not centuries.

In order to do something about it, the author suggests three things. First, being realistic about how much power and influence modern Britain can exert. He sees this as the ability to choose the right threats and to stop chasing shadows. Second, the author argues for the revival of the lost art of strategy. Grand strategy, in particular. Of course, that pre-supposes that a joined up vison for the future was being followed, with specific aims in mind. Third, Britain needs to re-discover the power to influence. There are areas where British influence can be leveraged beyond mere posturing. Lord Ricketts suggests that we do just that.

If we can managed to do these things, we will then be faced by a set of hard choices, those after which the book is titled. The biggest choice will be a geo-political one: China or America? I fully agree with the author that, by mid-century, most nations will have to choose between the two. The second choice will be to either reform the existing institutions to make them fit for purpose, or to sweep then away with a new set of institutions that reflect the current reality of power. The author opts for reform. I'm not so sure. The next hard choice will be the degree to which commercial interests should govern foreign policy. The author is keen on a more values based approach. He makes a good case for it, but I'm not wholly convinced. It's my belief that trade plays an important role in foreign relations and that we ought to be mindful of it. The final hard choice concerns how far to tilt towards the Indo-Pacific. The author correctly points out that such a tilt only contains the potential of benefits. He suggests more of a reconciliation with our nearest neighbours - the EU - and in this, I think that he is right.

This is a superb little book. It is easy to read and very engaging. I like the approach of examining how we got to where we are, what we can do differently, and what choices we will need to make. In this, I feel that we are in safe hands. However, I am less confident in the current stock of political leadership, which I see as rather lacking. What I suspect will happen is that we will have a pretty good blueprint (this book), but a pretty poor execution of it owing to an inability to plan ahead. If only we had better politicians! However, the book is worth reading, just to see what we are missing.

[Charlie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A broad-based analysis of the direction British foreign policy could take in light of Brexit, the Integrated Review, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Ricketts rightly points out that the UK will need to triangulate between American and Chinese interests, look to the UN as its main vehicle of influence, and properly reinvigorate the FCDO to achieve the policy-making capacity it needs. He also correctly criticises the 'Indo-Pacific Tilt' for shifting British focus away from the eastern flank of NATO, a core region to the UK in strategic terms, to an area it may not have the resources or will to persist in effectively. While the locus of power is shifting to the East Asian region, the UK should not encourage the division of international affairs into US and Chinese camps. Overall, it is a solid read for anyone interested in British defence and security policy.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for everyone interested in the future of the UK on the global stage.

[Robert Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

The modern world has rarely been more unstable; the COVID-19 pandemic and rising tension between superpowers are unfolding amidst a backdrop of rising nationalism. Britain is especially ill-placed to deal with these changes, with weak responses to both the European question and the recent spread of disease. Peter Ricketts, a highly experienced diplomat and peer in the House of Lords, has some potential answers to share in “Hard Choices”.

Lord Ricketts has extensive experience in the sector, having worked under multiple areas of the UK civil service and chaired the national security council under David Cameron’s government. Through the use of many historic examples, the book is split into three parts; how we got here, what to do now and making hard choices. How diplomacy has changed over time and the many difficulties faced by governments play a key role. Peter describes his own experiences, the mood that hung over negotiations during momentous events, adding another layer to his arguments.

What Hard Choices does is put events and our current approach into perspective; jingoistic boasting and overzealous views of Britain’s place in the world won’t get us anywhere. Unavoidably, we’ll end up aligning with one collection of nations at the expense of another or be unable to make up for losses in other areas. Be that as it may, the situation isn’t a total write-off and the author argues, with evidence, that we can still integrate into western alliances, make improvements on strategic thinking and forge a better path in geopolitics.

Recommended?

YES: Britain finds itself in a difficult spot; institutions are struggling, delusions of grandeur persist and a series of ill-advised decisions have left the nation diminished. Peter Ricketts cuts through all of that and provides a highly concise and compelling argument for future pathways. By drawing on previous examples and comparing them with modern events, the geopolitical debate is an intriguing one. Anyone with the slightest interest in the subject needs to pick up this book

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Choices is about Britain's post Brexit foreign policy and the realities facing Britain. The book was written by a someone who has had decades of experience working in foreign policy. This book provides an interesting history of Britain's role in the world, for example helping to set up the United Nations and the Atlantic Charter, up to the decisions Britain will have to take in leaving the EU.

I really enjoy this book, it provided thought-provoking analysis on a wide range of issues, such as Britain's decision to tilt towards the Indo-Pacific region. Th book also provides some heavy realisms concerning policymaking, such as losing the art of strategic thinking, but the writer suggests very interesting insights where Britain could still use its influence across the globe and the opportunities this could create.

If you have an interest in British Foreign Policy, I can't recommend this book enough.

[Daniel Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really learn anything new here, the first half of the book talks about the formation of NATO, the United Nations and how things played out after the 2nd World War. The 2nd part already feels a little out of date with Trump2 but essentially states that Britain is in a much weaker position outside of the EU (DoH!). I'm honestly none the wiser and feel rather deflated but gave it 3 stars as a good recap of where we are, and why we are so fu※ked.

[Ali Khosravi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth a read for anybody who cares about the future of Britain and the role it may or may not be able to play on the world stage. When a former diplomat with the range of experiences as Peter Ricketts writes about British foreign policy and on Britain's place in the world, it is definitely worth reading and listening to his insight...

[Colin Maclennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting account of Britain's foreign policy by a former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office. Generally a story a story of inflated language by politicians based on unrealistic, undefined concepts such as "Global Britain', while actually pursuing policies such as Brexit which have greatly diminished Britains status overseas.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

correctly identifies the need for a new national story

[Jack Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good insight into British foreign policy.