These visions have also influenced Labour foreign policy today. The current Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has credited both Robin Cook, his predecessor from 1997 to 2001, and Ernest Bevin, who held the post from 1945 to 1951 and established Wilton Park as it exists today, as the main sources of inspiration for his ‘progressive realism’ approach.
In his 1997 statement, Robin Cook stressed that foreign policy ‘must have an ethical dimension and must support the demands of other peoples for the democratic rights on which we insist for ourselves’. Cook sought to go beyond ‘narrow realpolitik’ in order to project Britain as a trusted partner in the era of internationalism.
In his article for Foreign Affairs setting out his case for progressive realism, David Lammy refers to Cook’s championing of a global ban on landmines and his overseeing of the UK’s intervention in Kosovo in 1999 as notable examples of his ambition. Wilton Park has supported these initiatives by hosting events on the Western Balkans since the late 1990s and multiple conferences on landmines, the most recent taking place earlier this year on preparing for success at the fifth Review Conference of Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty.
The current Foreign Secretary’s progressive realist approach advocates ‘using realist means to pursue progressive ends’. In International Relations, realism is the view that states act in pursuit of their own interests, relying on reserves of power (for example, military or economic) to do so. Progressive realism means using the UK’s standing in the world not to beat adversaries, but instead to achieve ‘just goals’ such as ‘tackling climate change, safeguarding democracy and advancing global development’.
In practice, this translates to continuing support to Ukraine, working with international partners to recognise Palestinian statehood as part of achieving a two-state solution, tackling climate change through just transitions, and adopting a more nuanced and multimodal strategy that allows the UK to challenge, compete against and cooperate with China where appropriate. At its core, progressive realism is a re-commitment to multilateralism and partnerships to achieve progress.
But to what extent can UK foreign policy today be progressive in an age of increasing competition and uncertainty? For David Lammy, a commitment to ethics needs to be balanced with an awareness of threats to UK security and interests.
Ernest Bevin, Labour Foreign Secretary from 1945 to 1951, is credited by Lammy as the influence behind the ‘realist’ element of progressive realism. As a realist, Bevin understood the role of power in the international arena and was acutely aware of the threat the Soviet Union posed to European security following World War 2. As such, he pushed strongly for the creation of a West German state and played a key role in convincing Truman to join NATO.
Bevin also recognised the importance of international dialogue and in 1948 advocated for a renewed purpose for Wilton Park as a space for Europeans to come together to discuss democratic ideals.[1] In 1950, Bevin made the case for Wilton Park to continue its work in response to budgetary concerns from a Treasury official, arguing that in light of growing cold war tensions, it was an ‘essential part of the defence measures that increasing effort should be made in the information and educational work in Germany’.[2]
Today, it is not sufficient to pursue purely national interests in the way Bevin did. As Lammy acknowledges, Bevin’s lack of regard for social justice and equality (including decolonisation) would not be conducive to securing the multilateral agreements we need to make progress in the 21st century.
However, balancing ethics with competing interests and geopolitical realities has historically been a challenge for more progressive governments. Even Robin Cook was forced to take tough decisions which led some to question his commitment to an ethical foreign policy. At a time when the UK’s arms exports were worth £5 billion a year, the Labour government of the late 1990s had to consider the implications of ethics on UK industry. As a result, Cook approved the sale of British Aerospace Hawk jets to Indonesia despite their controversial use in Timor-Leste.
For Lammy, the ‘limits of idealism’ lie at the point where progressivism is prioritised over UK security, both economic and physical.
However, there are multiple areas where these two strands come together; public investment in green technology will not only unlock private investment, but also bolster global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Becoming a global leader on AI regulation will help reduce associated societal harms such as misinformation while advancing innovation to support growth.
According to Richard Whitman, we may already be seeing progressive realism in action with the recent Chagos Islands agreement with Mauritius, which resolves ‘an adjudication in international law against the UK’ by relinquishing sovereignty whilst retaining ‘a core security interest’ by allowing the US to maintain its military base there for 99 years.
In our ‘messy and multipolar’ world, striking the right balance between ethics, security and growth will be difficult. For progressive realism to be a success, openness and honesty with international partners will be key for building the necessary alliances, understanding the geopolitical context and communicating our position effectively. Strengthening engagement with external experts from across academia, civil society and the private sector will help inform decision making and establish where there is room for idealism and where pragmatism must take priority.
Since Bevin’s time, Wilton Park has been a space for this dialogue to take place, adapting to evolving geopolitical contexts over the past eight decades to advance Foreign Secretaries’ priorities. It will continue to do so by bringing together voices and perspectives from around the world, inviting challenge and facilitating patient diplomacy.
The rowan has a lifespan of around 120 years, meaning that the Robin Cook memorial tree will still be there for another century. It is impossible to know what the world will be like then; what is certain, however, is the continued need for genuine dialogue and mutual understanding that Wilton Park facilitates.
[1] Richard Mayne, In Victory, Magnanimity, in Peace, Goodwill. A History of Wilton Park (London, 2003), p. 101.
[2] David Phillips, “Aspects of Education for Democratic Citizenship in Post-War Germany.” Oxford Review of Education, vol. 38, no. 5, 2012, pp. 567–81, p. 569. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41702778
