Forget America, Britain's Future is the EU

One of the most original thinkers on global strategy and technology discusses the future of the nation state, the focus of British foreign policy and how good can emerge from crisis

Occupy Wall Street Movement Now in London and Rome

The snowballing global campaign against corporate greed has reached Europe, particularly the capital cities of London and Rome

United Kingdom Riots: State of Denial

However kindly you look at it, the United Kingdom's economy is broken and so are significant parts of our society. How worried should we be? Just over twenty years after that infamous 'end of history' and triumph of western capitalism moment, have we now reached the nemesis point?

Britain Shuts Down Family Access Immigration Route

Britain plans to shut down the family access immigration route in a bid to reduce the number of migrants entering the United Kingdom outside the European Union.

Slapstick and Denial Highlight News International's London Testimony

Slapstick was a suitable accompaniment to the statements by Rupert and James Murdoch to a parliamentary committee in London, and to Prime Minister David Cameron's performance in the House of Commons concerning the intimate relations that exist between News International's London newspapers and the present British government

Handling Big Contradictions

Recently, I was asked to talk upon the theme of 'handling big contradictions,' especially on the international political and economic levels of decision-making. I was happy to oblige, because this is something I have been thinking about a lot, as I observe our leaders and policy-makers grappling with problems for which there is no obvious and easy solution

Study Estimates 3 Million British Children in Poverty by 2013

The falling standard of living, coupled with the economic slowdown and government reduction of tax breaks and social benefits, will lead to 3 million children in the United Kingdom living in poverty by 2013, the Institute for Fiscal Studies forecast

The Politics of the London Riots

Some politicians and commentators have dismissed the recent British riots as pure criminality. But they ignore the politics at their own risk

Explanations and Excuses for English Riots

Some of those caught looting stores in Britain during the recent riots were asked why they did it. Four teenagers explained to Sky News that they viewed it as 'a shopping spree.' One teen blamed the government

United Kingdom: Forged In The Crucible Of Austerity

One year into office, foreign policy is unexpectedly proving a defining theme of Britain's coalition government. Faced with economic austerity at home and geopolitical uncertainty abroad, the challenge has been to match ambitions to changing realities  

Told You So

One of liberalism's many problems is that once an idea or program is proved wrong and unworkable, liberals rarely acknowledge their mistake and examine the root cause of their error so they don't repeat it. Take multiculturalism ... please!

Young Westerners -- Deprived or Decadent?

A once civil and orderly England was recently torn apart by rioting and looting -- at first by mostly minority youth, but eventually also by young Brits in general

The Mob That New Technology Has Made

One touch of a button. One group e-mail. One Facebook post. And boom! Everyone knows everything. Or everyone is in one place. The ability to rally followers with a single post has shown its dark side, with the recent events in London and other places

Decline of the English Scandal

Consider this an obituary for a newspaper. The suddenly late News of the World succumbed at 168 this month to a fatal case of shame aggravated by financial calculation. Its chronic hubris became acute under its latest owner, who has not been free of that malady himself.

Brits Borrowing from American Political Playbook

The British have borrowed one of the most popular American political institutions by holding a series of televised debates among their three candidates for prime minister. It appears to have been a success, at least in heightening public interest in the race.

The Arrogant and the Ignorant

On my last visit to the UK three months ago, Members of Parliament were embroiled in a scandal involving outrageous expense claims for such things as moat cleaning, a baby crib and second homes that were sometimes occupied by friends and relatives, or not at all