Global Britain in the New World Order

Abstract

As the unipolar world gives way to a new multipolar order, several independent centers of influence have begun to compete for global prominence. In this changing landscape, post-Brexit Great Britain must reshape its foreign policy as an independent sovereign state, a shift highlighted by the March 2021 government review that introduced the concept of Global Britain. This article examines Britain’s pursuit of leadership within this multipolar framework. Grounded in the principles of historicism and objectivism, the study employs comparative historical and problem-chronological analyses to identify the historical prerequisites of the Global Britain vision as a justification for Brexit, alongside the shifting dynamics within the British-American Special Relationship. By deconstructing the core tenets of this concept, the article highlights Britain’s primary achievements on its global trajectory, including active geopolitics in the post-Soviet space, strategic economic partnerships with Kazakhstan, a reset of relations with the European Union amidst Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, and its role as a key coordinator of relief efforts in Ukraine. Ultimately, as a leading global economy, nuclear power, and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, G7, and G20, Great Britain continues to expand its global ambitions.