A World of Difference: Parliamentary Oversight of British Foreign Policy

A holdover from pre-democratic monarchical rule, MPs in the UK have traditionally had little or no say in matters such as foreign policy. In a July 2007 Green paper the government pledged to “work to increase parliamentary scrutiny” in these areas. Focusing primarily on the role of the Foreign Affairs Committee, but considering also the activities of individual MPs, All-Party Parliamentary Groups, and other more informal activities, the report "A World of Difference" analyzes the government’s progress on this promise through the parliamentary session ending in November 2007. The report assesses:

• the role of Parliament in policies designed to improve global security;
• parliamentary scrutiny of the government’s approach to EU business;
• the role of Parliament and MPs in considering humanitarian interventions; and
• how the government’s reforms may have impacted and democratized British foreign policy.

Read more here about the report’s findings on the ways in which Parliament could improve its oversight, and how government might cooperate in that endeavor.