In the world of athletics, a ‘race plan’ is a strategy designed to help a runner cross the finish line in a marathon. It provides guidance on the mental and physical conditions required to be successful, how to overtake competitors, and how to pace each stage of the race. In his new book of the same title, former Liberal Democrat minister Jeremy Browne applies this loose analogy to the question of how Britain can equip itself to compete effectively in the ‘global race’ for prosperity, security and influence, with mixed results.
During his time as minister of state in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office between 2010 and 2012, Browne witnessed first hand the rapid scale and pace of development in China, India and other fast-growing economies. These experiences convinced him that the world is at the beginning of an ‘Asian Century’, and that Britain (and the other western powers that dominated the 20th century) must adapt to these changes, or face an inexorable decline in our wealth, international standing and the capacity to project our liberal values and standards abroad.
As a metaphor, the idea of a race is clunky. Races have clear end points and only one winner, while, as Browne himself acknowledges, globalisation is a constant process of change and adaptation where the prosperity of one country or bloc does not depend on the relative decline of others. If, as the book implies, the ‘finish line’ is a Britain that is confident and outward-looking, whose citizens have genuine choice as to how they live, and where economic and social structures are conducive to prosperity and freedom, then surely we should be working towards these goals as good things in and of themselves, rather than in competition with other nations.
However, Race Plan’s assessment of recent shifts in global power and influence is astute, and gives urgency to Browne’s argument that Britain will struggle in the new world order if it does not address the structural weaknesses holding back its economy and society – including high levels of borrowing and debt, an unresponsive public sector, static levels of educational achievement, an ageing population and an antiquated infrastructure. One of the book’s most startling statistics is that between 2011 and 2015 China will have built 82 new airports. Quite a contrast with the United Kingdom, which has spent years dithering about new runways. As Browne observes, there is a worrying complacency among the political class about the scale of the challenges facing Britain in the decades ahead, despite the advantages we possess in terms of human and physical capital.
Ultimately, Race Plan reads more like a manifesto for change than a detailed plan of how to achieve it. It contains a number of sensible domestic policy proposals, but does not prioritise among them, or say much about how to overcome political and financial constraints. Nevertheless, it is a welcome contribution to the debate about Britain’s place in the world. Browne may not have produced a definitive race plan for the country, but his call for Britain to reinvigorate its internationalist outlook and ambitions should be heeded.
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Alex Glennie is senior research fellow at IPPR
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Race Plan: An Authentic Liberal Plan to Get Britain Fit for ‘The Global Race’
Jeremy Browne
Reform Research Trust | 224pp | £10