Brexit and UK International Development Policy

Abstract

In this article we explore the implications of Brexit for the UK and the EU's development policies and strategic directions, focusing on the former. While it is likely that the operational process of disentangling the UK from the various development institutions of the EU will be relatively straightforward, the choices that lie ahead about whether and how to cooperate thereafter are more complex. Aid and development policy touches on a wide range of interests—security, trade, climate change, migration, gender rights, and so on. We argue that Brexit will accelerate existing trends within UK development policy, notably towards the growing priority of private sector‐led economic growth strategies and blended finance tools. There are strong signals that UK aid will be cut, as successive secretaries of state appear unable to persuade a substantial section of the public and media that UK aid and development policy serves UK interests in a variety of ways.

Brexit and the UK‐Africa Caribbean and Pacific Aid Relationship

“…Participation in such fora enables ‘UK leaders, diplomats and civil servants to project direct and indirect influence over international norms, debates and policy statements in emerging forums’ (Lightfoot et al . ). This runs alongside the long running UK commitments to a range of multilateral development institutions, with its contributions to the World Bank being among the most significant in terms of volume of funding.…”

“…Should the post‐Brexit EU decide to refocus its development cooperation relations, Lightfoot et al . () argue that the UK might be pressured into increasing funding to certain states to compensate for their loss. However, this move might mean that UK aid provision becomes more tightly focused on middle income states, rather than LDCs.…”

“…As Laporte suggests 'it might be particularly difficult for the English-speaking Caribbean to find new allies in Europe that will defend their case in Brussels' (Laporte et al, 2016). Should the post-Brexit EU decide to refocus its development cooperation relations, Lightfoot et al (2017) argue that the UK might be pressured into increasing funding to certain states to compensate for their loss. However, this move might mean that UK aid provision becomes more tightly focused on middle income states, rather than LDCs.…”

Too Effective for Europe? The UK, Norm Advocacy and the Case of EU International Cooperation

“…Yet assessments of Britain's interactions in EU development cooperation have remained rare in the academic literature. Exceptions are the country's accession to the Community and its common development cooperation (Cosgrove Twitchett, , ) and the consequences of the Brexit referendum in this sector (Lightfoot et al, ). This leaves a gap for important moments of the UK's participation in the EU, especially under Conservative governments in the 2010s.…”

“…There have been few analyses of Britain's role in EU development cooperation. The Brexit referendum 2016 created significant momentum for (re)considering the relationship between the EU and the UK and this momentum was also extended to this sector (Bond, ; Lightfoot et al, ; Olivié and Pérez, ). Yet much of this debate has concentrated on the consequences of Brexit for international, UK or EU development cooperation without taking due account of the practices of British participation.…”