International politics and government
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on international politics and government. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.
Standard Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 22.07.2013 | In brief: the controversy over the November 2013 Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka |
| In November 2009, the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting (CHOGM) agreed that its 2013 meeting should be held in Sri Lanka. This decision has faced persistent criticism since then, with organisations including Human Rights Watch arguing that the Sri Lankan Government's human rights record is so poor that the Commonwealth should relocate the Summit elsewhere. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, has rejected such calls. So far, Canada is the only Commonwealth member state to say that it will definitely not be attending the Summit. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, have confirmed that they will both be attending the Summit on behalf of the British Government (Prince Charles will represent the Queen). The official British position is that they will use their presence to raise concerns about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. | |
| 04.07.2013 | Coup in Egypt |
| A brief survey of the Egyptian military's removal of President Mohamed Mursi. | |
| 18.06.2013 | Syria: The legality of arming the rebels after the lifting of the EU arms embargo |
| Would arming the Syrian rebels be illegal, notwithstanding the lifting of the EU arms embargo? | |
| 11.06.2013 | In brief: Mali - political and security developments |
| Mali is scheduled to hold presidential elections on 28 July 2013. Malian soldiers recently launched military operations to establish some semblance of state authority over Kidal in the north ahead of the elections, so that they can argue that they are fair and credible. Negotiations with the Tuareg nationalist MNLA and other stakeholders are under way in Burkina Faso and there are hopeful signs that a peaceful resolution can be agreed. The key issue is whether the MNLA will agree to be disarmed and, if so, on what basis. | |
| 10.06.2013 | Political progress in Libya? |
| Has Libya built on the achievement of successful elections in 2012 to make real progress towards a modern, democratic and secure state? |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 25.07.2013 | The Quebec referendums |
| This paper gives a brief outline of separatism in Quebec, showing that many of the arguments in Canada are already being echoed in the debate about Scotland's future relationship with the rest of the UK. | |
| 01.07.2013 | Leaving the EU |
| The Treaty on European Union provides for a Member State to leave the EU, either on the basis of a negotiated withdrawal agreement or without one. If the UK were to leave the EU following a referendum, it is likely that the Government would negotiate an agreement with the EU, which would probably contain transitional arrangements as well as provide for the UK's long-term future relations with the EU. There is no precedent for such an agreement, but it would in all likelihood come at the end of complex and lengthy negotiations. | |
| 22.05.2013 | Disputes over the British Indian Ocean Territory: a survey |
| Between 1968 and 1973 the British Government cleared the entire Chagos Archipelago of its inhabitants, opening the way for a US military base on the biggest island, Diego Garcia. The Archipelago was made a British overseas territory, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Two main disputes have arisen from these events. One has been between the Chagos Islanders and the British Government over the legality of the former's removal and whether they have a right to return. The other has been between the UK and Mauritius about sovereignty over the BIOT. The UK has said that it will cede sovereignty to Mauritius once the BIOT is no longer required for defence purposes. | |
| 06.12.2012 | Pakistan in 2013 |
| 2013 will be another important year for Pakistan. Federal and provincial elections will be held during the first half of the year. If, as seems increasingly likely, the Pakistan People's Party-led Government sees out its full term in office and hands over to a civilian successor, it will be the first time in Pakistan's history that this has happened. But the political and economic situation remains highly volatile and unpredictable. | |
| 30.10.2012 | Antarctic Bill |
| This Private Member's Bill makes provision for expeditions in Antarctica to have contingency plans to deal with environmental emergencies. |
Select Committee Reports
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 15.12.2011 | Government response to the ninth report from the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on UK-Brazil relations.... |
| Government response. Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Foreign Affairs Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 24.03.2010 | Turks and Caicos Islands. |
| Foreign Affairs Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 18.03.2010 | Global Security: UK-US Relations. |
| Foreign Affairs Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 14.10.2009 | Cross-border co-operation between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. |
| Government response. Northern Ireland Office; Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 06.10.2009 | Global security: Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. |
| Government response. Foreign and Commonwealth Office report [Commons] |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 06.02.2012 | TREATMENT OF THE JARAWA TRIBE |
| That this House is concerned that tourists in India's Andaman Islands are treating the recently-contacted Jarawa tribe like an attraction in a human safari park; notes the ongoing media ... | |
| 06.02.2012 | 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE KHOJALY TRAGEDY |
| That this House notes that 26 February 2012 represents the 20th anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy when 613 men, women and children were killed by invading Armenian forces; further ... | |
| 24.01.2012 | GABRIELLE GIFFORDS |
| That this House salutes the courage and leadership of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords over the last year; believes that she has been a shining example of democracy to people across ... | |
| 17.01.2012 | KASHMIR GRAVES |
| That this House notes with sadness and regret the discovery of over 6,000 unmarked graves in the area of demarcation known as the Line-of-Control on the border between Indian and Pakistani ... | |
| 12.01.2012 | IRANIAN DIPLOMATIC DEFECTIONS |
| That this House notes that several senior diplomats have defected from the Iranian foreign service in revulsion at the actions of the Tehran regime; further notes that in so doing they ... |
