Britain’s Real Foreign Policy and the Failure of British Academia

This article argues that the reality of Britain’s foreign policy is very different than usually presented by academics. In most analyses within the ‘mainstream’, the goals espoused by policy-makers themselves are generally taken seriously and tend to set the framework of academic analysis. This means that criticism is usually within very narrow parameters and regularly ignores whole policies. Curtis argues that British academics have categorically failed to document rigorously the formerly secret planning records in the National Archives. He reveals from his research the secret record of British policy in a number of countries, including Iran, Kenya and Indonesia before considering foreign policy under Blair. He argues that Britain is a systematic violator of international law and a persistent condoner of human rights abuses.