A weekly roundup of publications, reports, events & articles from the leading UK think tanks.

Don’t let the mention of that lazy trope ‘political correctness’ put you off this weeks ‘must read’ piece -the CPS report ‘Through the Looking Glass’ on Western foreign policy and the sometimes erroneous attitudes that frame it.

No roundup next week for personal reasons but I’ll try to cover off everything in the subsequent one.

As ever please use the comments for anything I’ve missed…

Reports & Publications…

• Today the Centre for Policy Studies publishes ‘Through the Looking Glass: political correctness, foreign policy and bad decisions’ by noted foreign policy expert Roger Howard. Roger examines ‘how political correctness is seeping into foreign policy’ and concludes “we are looking at the rest of the world through a highly distorted looking glass, one that has been shaped, to an important degree, by political correctness. We will see the outside world in a much clearer light if we can smash the glass. Doing so is one of the biggest foreign policy challenges that confront us.”
• Liberal think-tank CentreForum published ‘Earned amnesty: bringing illegal workers out of the shadows’ – the report ‘proposes a detailed strategy and rationale for an ‘earned’ regularisation programme which identifies those illegal immigrants who contribute to British society’.
• The International Policy Network published ‘While Doha Sleeps: Securing Economic Growth Through Trade Facilitation’ – a report which ‘shows how unilateral reforms of bureaucratic procedures can be even more valuable than the tariff reductions sought through the WTO’.
• The New Economics Foundation published “A Green New Deal: Joined-up policies to solve the triple crunch of the credit crisis, climate change and high oil prices” – the report proposes a modernised version of Roosevelt’s ‘New Deal’ designed “to power a renewables revolution, create thousands of green-collar jobs and rein in the distorting power of the finance sector while making more low-cost capital available for pressing priorities.”
• The Joseph Rowntree Foundation have some interesting research into ‘Immigration and Social Cohesion in the UK’ – “The researchers conclude that to ensure cohesion, the impact of social and economic changes needs to be addressed as well as how people relate to each other. The limited opportunities and multiple deprivations of the long-term settled population in parts of UK towns and cities undermine social cohesion”

Articles & Briefings…

• The Electoral Reform Society produced an interesting ‘quick guide’ from Oxford Professor of Government Vernon Bogdanor called ‘PR Myths: The facts and the fiction on Proportional Representation’ – “No political issue attracts more fallacious arguments than proportional representation. Perhaps the most foolish one is that a proportional system would be too difficult for the voters to understand. The implication must be that English voters are the most stupid in Europe.”
• The Fabian Society site carried an essay by You Gov President Peter Kellner on the implications of a Labour defeat in Glasgow east and why some people are reading too much into the result – “Calm down dear it’s only a by-election”
• Also from the Fabian Society the text of Health Secretary Alan Johnson’s speech on Obesity on Wednesday evening. Johnson takes issue with Cameron’s mocking of the term ‘at risk of obesity’ – “Academics and medical experts do not say that children are “at risk” of obesity or poverty because of political correctness – they say this because it’s an accurate assessment of the situation. A child who grows up in poverty, and whose parents have little or no aspiration for them, who doesn’t get to go to the best school, who isn’t blessed with an inspirational teacher, is by any definition “at risk” of becoming a poor adult. It’s not inevitable, but without some help and support, it’s highly likely”
• Jessica Allen, Head of Health and Social Care at the IPPR had an article in the Health Service Journal entitled “Drifting apart: Why health inequalities are getting bigger” – “Is it fair to expect the NHS alone to stop health inequalities widening when they are shaped by so many factors in society – income, housing, education – or is the health service failing in its basic responsibilities?”
• Annie Bruzzone has a thought-provoking article for Policy Network on “The myths and realities of labour migration” – “Italy’s political flirtation with Umberto Bossi’s openly racist Northern League should be a stark wake up call for progressives across Europe”

Events & Meetings…

• The International Institute for Strategic Studies are hosting a discussion meeting on Wednesday 30th July entitled “Where is Russia going?”. Lead speaker is Tony Brenton, British Ambassador to Russia with 33 years of diplomatic service in many postings around the world. The meeting will take place on the Fourth Floor at Arundel House, 13-15 Arundel Street in London and if you would like to attend, please RSVP Clara Catherall on catherall@iiss.org or tel.020 7395 9156.
• Tomorrow sees the 6th event in the IPPR’s Climate Policy Forum – “The future of flying in a world of high oil prices”. Speakers will be Ric Parker from Rolls-Royce, Andrew Barker from EasyJet and Professor Kevin – anyone interested in attending should contact j.obrien@ippr.org

People…

• Policy Exchange Director Anthony Browne has been appointed Policy Director by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.