The FCO provides both staff and the general public with a range of research papers to help inform foreign policy decisions.
Our research analysts
They provide high-quality analysis and advice based on specialist expertise on regions, international institutions and issues.
They are specialists in their field. Many of them have doctorates or other advanced degrees in our subjects. Typically, they have studied or worked in the countries, regions and institutions they deal with for substantial periods, often in academic life, think-tanks or journalism.
Our research analysts provide the following services:
- act as the FCO's institutional memory – along with our historians
- provide policy-relevant but policy-neutral research and analysis on past and current problems
- prepare in-depth studies of why events happened as they did and what implications they may have for the present and future
- challenge received wisdom if we think it's necessary
- keep abreast of, and in contact with, outside expertise so that this knowledge can be brought to bear on current policy problems
- provide factual information.
Latest unclassified papers to be released
August 2008
Vetoed draft resolutions in the United Nations Security Council 1946 - 2008 [PDF 1 mb]
February 2008
Major UN groups and major groupings relating to the UN System [PDF 191KB, new window]
November 2007
Governance in Africa - What do we mean and why does it matter? [PDF 25KB, new window]
October 2007
US Deportees in El Salvador: Lessons for Jamaica? [PDF 14KB, new window]
October 2005
Counter-terrorism legislation and practice: a survey of selected countries [PDF 376KB]