Britain's Role in 21st Century Global Politics

The United Kingdom is in the unique position of having shaped the world in its own image over the course of the past two centuries. From Canada to Australia we see our political system thriving across the Commonwealth, and the very root of our own culture, from language to fashion, amplified by the economic hegemon that is the United States.

Evidently that puts us in an extremely advantageous predicament, rendering our own relative economic decline much more inconsequential than it is for other similar European states. However, this soft power means that our future in global politics must shift as the world's political centre of gravity moves from West to East.

The question of East-West relations is significant in our discussion of the UK’s potential future in the world, but the kind of relationship we forge with Europe is very much central to that future. If we cut ties cleanly, our place in the world will be of our own making. We will be free to decide how to approach free trade deals around the world and the principle of democratic self determinism will be held.

Nevertheless, it must not be presumed we will reap very many economic benefits from this adventure, in fact the opposite may be true and we may see our economy in relatively worse terms than had we otherwise opted to stay, However the link to our soft power that cultivation of relationships more generally could bring is advantageous and will shift our status in the world in positive terms.

The preservation of our current positive relationship with Europe will be a key factor in any future we have outside the EU. To forge new relationships is not to burn bridges, in fact we should capitalise in the new opportunity to develop a tailor made relationship to the EU, which must include cultural cooperation on issues such as  Euratom and Erasmus, but this can be done outside the EU. On top of this, building on the system for immigration we have to develop one that is fairer to the people of this nation, and beyond that opening up the nation equally to all countries.

It is a necessity that Brexit happens but not that it leaves our relationship with Europe wholly damaged and irreparable. It is for this reason that we should still seek a a close relationship with Europe. All the while, our assets should be focused on emerging economies of the future, Mexico, Brazil and India for example, gaining preferential trading rights before they grow powerful enough to shift the balance of power in a negotiation.

To conclude, we are a nation of soft power and always will be. That will always be a fact of our existence but it should not prevent us from seeking out new friends in the world, and leaving us attached to the EU. However we must use this power to counteract a rising China and increase the number of trade agreements we have, whilst fighting for free trade more widely.

Kamran Ali (Secretary) is a third-year reading French and Russian at Christ Church.