About this blog
Welcome to my blog - I'm Charles Reed and I advise the Church of England on foreign policy issues.
This blog covers a variety of topics from US foreign policy to European politics and the Middle East - and whatever else happens to be in the news or catch my attention.
This is a conversational blog so please join in as your comments are an essential part of making the whole thing work.
My Books
Monthly Archives: April 2011
Development Futures
How should Labour work with civil society, faith groups and others to deliver effective development? That was the question that I posted last week following a meeting of the Labour Party’s policy review group on international development. The little research … Continue reading
Islam is Part of Europe
France’s law banning the wearing of burkas in public comes into effect today. The burka might be an uncomfortable symbol to many in the West, but this particular piece of legislation does appear unnecessarily provocative. Most of the papers that … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Islam
Tagged Burka, Europe, Foreign Policy, Islam, Jonathan Laurence, Multiculturalism
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Helping Red Ed get it Right on International Development
Yesterday was a bit of a surreal day for me as I attended the first Expert Task Force meeting of the Labour Party’s Working Group on International Development. There are six Expert Task Forces that make up this Working Group, … Continue reading
Arms to ….? Well to Anyone Willing to Buy Them!
With the government still debating the rights and wrongs of arming rebels in their liberation struggle against Colonel Gaddafi, a Parliamentary report published today sets out the extent to which Britain has exported military equipment to 15 countries in North … Continue reading
Posted in Arms Trade, British Foreign Policy
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Bishop Packs a Punch on Libya and the Arab Spring
The Rt Revd John Packer, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, made a useful intervention in today’s debate in the House of Lords on Libya and wider developments in the Middle East The debate is still on going but you … Continue reading
Posted in Libya, Middle East
Tagged Arab Democracy, Houses of Parliament, John Packer, Libya, Middle East
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Photo Essay: Cricket Diplomacy
The prime ministers of nuclear-armed foes India and Pakistan sat side by side and clapped together on Wednesday as the home side won a historic World Cup cricket match packed with symbolic gestures aimed at rebuilding ties shattered by the … Continue reading
Posted in India, Pakistan, Photo Essay
Tagged Cricket Diplomacy, Cricket World Cup, India, Pakistan
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