March 2013 – STUFF HAPPENS

Salisbury Plain, the day before Easter (a light snow fall follows)

Notes on UK Strategy for C21 iii

Sorry – still going on this. My bullet point analysis of Britain’s malaise … Britain is caught – even now – between an imperial sense of responsibility, know-how and engagement; and limited post-imperial capability. This gap has become wider since the financial crisis. The context of international relations has been transformed by technology, population growth, […]

by Alex Hickman

Notes on UK Strategy for C21 ii

A couple of weeks ago I was interviewed by a Bosnian journalist about the future of the City and the UK’s relationship with Europe. The conversation made me think – not for the first time – about just how deep a hole we are in, and how we find the right way out of it […]

by Alex Hickman

The Eurozone won’t survive in its present form

On the eve of the latest Eurozone bail-out, I listened to a panel of four central bankers (an American, a Japanese, a Cypriot and a Dutchman) discuss the outlook for the global economy. The context was a conference hosted by a global banking group. The panellists were a bright foursome and all commanders of their subject and they […]

by Alex Hickman

Notes on our “Era of Insecurity”

Last week my firm hosted a discussion in London on “Geopolitics in the Era of Insecurity”. The discussion was led by Major General Sir Rupert Smith, who commanded 35,000 British troops in the First Gulf War (1990/91), led UNPROFOR to suppress the war in Bosnia (1995/6), served as NATO’s Deputy Supreme Commander Europe (1998/2001), and published […]

by Alex Hickman

Notes on Luddism

I’ve spent the last two days attending Technology Frontiers, a summit hosted by The Economist. It’s an annual event, looking at what’s new in technology and the change that is happening as a result. This year the theme was ‘Humans and Machines’. I’ve always felt a little cool about the revolution in social media – […]

by Alex Hickman

Notes on reading books

In order to try and better understand the world around me, I will read more books. In our age of maxi communication we are bombarded with information, most of it useless and / or with a very short shelf life. Pay too much attention and before you know it you’re hooked to the 24 hour […]

by Alex Hickman

Notes on UK Strategy for C21

I’ve written before about the UK’s need for a strategy for the 21st century. I think David Cameron’s EU referendum pledge + his announcement of a new generational struggle against Islamic terrorism in Africa +the looming referendum on Scottish independence + the shifting priorities of the US under Obama etc. etc. pose interesting questions about […]