Institute of Development Studies

A Conservative Agenda for International Development

16 October 2009

On October 15 2009 Andrew Mitchell MP, Shadow Secretary for International Development, came to IDS to give the first of the new academic year's series of Sussex Development Lectures. His talk was entitled 'One World Conservatism: A Conservative Agenda for International Development' and was based upon the recent Green Paper of the same name, which sets out the Conservative Party's plans for international development policy should they win the next election.

He began by setting out the urgency of the challenge as he sees it, saying that 'now is development's time… because we know so much, and can do so much'. Mitchell linked this to the rise of technologies allowing instant communication across the globe and globalisation making us all more interdependent. He said our generation has a duty to confront this moral challenge, both in order to address global inequalities of opportunity and wealth, and to protect the UK's national self-interest.

Conflict

The first of the areas he talked about in detail was the effect of conflict on development. This is one of the main foci of the Green paper, in particular efforts to prevent it, stop it and reconcile post-conflict countries. The 'Responsibility to Protect' has been passed by the Security Council yet is still ineffective – 'a bumper sticker not a policy' as Mitchell called it. Mitchell has spent time with the African Union in Darfur, and explained that the Conservatives would like to help to train AU forces  and provide 'back-up'for their future peacekeeping missions. This would extend to air support but, Mitchell said, there is 'no case' for NATO forces to operate on the ground. The Focus of the paper was not just on conflict itself but also dysfunction government, such as that found in Zimbabwe, Chad and the Central African Republic.

Trade

Mitchell expressed his regret at the failure of the Doha round to conclude successfully, and emphasised his commitment to encouraging all parties to be more flexible in coming to a resolution that would help the rich and poor countries to prosper. He also confirmed that even form within the Conservative party the differences between their policy and Labour’s views on trade and conflict are not all that different, and there is broad consensus that does not as it once did divide along party lines.

Aid

All three major UK political parties are now committed to spending 0.7% of GDP on international aid; this is good, Mitchell said, but only a start. His party feels aid should be more accountable, and said that while the Labour party is focussed on inputs, his own party are more interested in outcomes – contrasting the questions of 'how much is being spent on education' with 'how many children are in school'. He recognised that public support for aid will not be as easy to maintain as it has been over the last 10 years, and sees independent evaluation as a key tool. He would like to see more information online, in clear language that is easily understood, accessible and transparent.

 

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