Hard Choices: What Britain Does Next

SHORTLISTED FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY BOOK AWARDS 'Thought-provoking and well worth reading' Times Literary Supplement After decades of peace and prosperity, the international order put in place after World War II is rapidly coming to an end. Disastrous foreign wars, global recession, the meteoric rise of China and India and the COVID pandemic have undermined the power of the West's international institutions and unleashed the forces of nationalism and protectionism. In this lucid and groundbreaking analysis, one of Britain's most experienced senior diplomats highlights the key dilemmas Britain faces, from trade to security, arguing that international co-operation and solidarity are the surest ways to prosper in a world more dangerous than ever.

Table of Contents:
0: Introduction 1: Imagining the Post-War Order 2: Managing an Alliance of Unequals 3: Rethinking the Use of Force 4: Picking the Right Threats 5: Reviving the Lost Art of Strategy 6: Finding the Power to Influence 7: Triangle of Tension: Britain, America and China 8: The International System and the Lure of the New 9: Trade, Values and the Mercantilist Trap 10: How Far Offshore? Britain, Europe and the Indo-Pacific Tilt 11: Conclusion

About the Author :
Peter Ricketts has been at the heart of Britain's foreign policy for more than 30 years. He was Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, UK Permanent Representative to NATO, Permanent Secretary in the Foreign Office and Ambassador to France. He has written for the FT, The Times, the New Statesman and Prospect, and regularly appears on Sky News and the BBC. Hard Choices is his first book.

Review :
A bracing, stimulating, utterly timely call for the UK to take a very hard look at its place in the world post-Brexit and after Covid. Peter Ricketts tells us we have nothing to lose but our illusions. He's right. Thought-provoking and well worth reading As one of Britain's top diplomats, Ricketts had a close-up view of some of the most dramatic events of recent decades... he takes a tough-minded look at the country's post-Brexit options - making the case for realistic internationalism and renewed engagement with Europe. Peter Ricketts has put all of his experience and authority into this clear, accessible and unvarnished account of Britain's place in the world. If you want to understand the big choices ahead, read this book. Bursting with anecdotes and new perspectives... a perfect introduction for those engaging in the crucial-and newly wide open-debate about where Britain sits in the world, and where it goes next. Searing... The hardest choice for the UK is "to accept reality", Ricketts argues. Where others deal in soundbites and slogans, Peter Ricketts brings his deep expertise and wisdom to bear on the great issues facing Britain as it rethinks its role in the world. He offers a riveting analysis of what our interests really are at a time of severe strain on the liberal democratic order, and a wealth of insights into how best we should pursue them. A clarion call for a post-Brexit national conversation and a new national strategy. Written with grace and clarity, Hard Choices is a book for every informed citizen concerned for Britain's future in a dangerous and unpredictable world. As Britain defines its post-Brexit role against the backdrop of a more fragmented, complex and uncertain world, Peter Ricketts offers sage advice about next steps, including the need for a focused strategy and international cooperation. Hard Choices is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of this country. Incisive, stimulating and highly-readable. Peter Ricketts turns forty years' experience of British foreign policymaking into a road map of where Britain should be going in the post-Brexit, post-Covid world. Peter Ricketts has used his experience as one of the best diplomats of his generation to produce a book that is magisterial in its scope and analysis -- and in its recommendations for how the UK can use the realities of the post-Brexit era to its advantage. Essential reading for all who care about Britain's position in the world. A sharp and salutary reality check from one of Britain's wisest and most experienced diplomats. Peter Ricketts has a simple message: despite Brexit, Britain remains a European power and must reject isolationist and imperial delusions. A clearer analysis of Britain in the 2020s will not be found: read this brilliant book. With a combination of behind-the-scenes anecdotes and sharp analysis, Peter Ricketts uses his extensive diplomatic and national security experience to consider the importance of thinking strategically about the future role of Britain in the world. No one is more able than Peter Ricketts by experience and wisdom, to set out clearly and sensibly the broad parameters of Britain's strategy in the age of Brexit, pandemic, climate change and the threats to liberal democracies from China. A sensible Government would implement these proposals with enthusiasm straight away. A candid and sometimes brutal sizing up of past mistakes, of chances missed and of opportunities still open. This dissection of British strategic choices by the UK's first National Security Adviser and one of our most experienced diplomats reveals not just the inside story of how we got here but what it will feel like to be in the room when the hard choices have to be made. Sharp and engaging... All of us who care about Britain remaining a major force in shaping the international order should pay careful attention to both the analysis and policy recommendations of Hard Choices.