The episode drew on Dr Asthana’s research on international Manchesterism – a political philosophy rooted in place, economic renewal and the belief that national prosperity begins with strong local communities – and the Makerfield test for foreign policy.
The premise is simple but challenging: international engagement should be judged by whether it translates global forces into greater prosperity, security and resilience for local communities, rather than by abstract notions of influence or prestige.
The discussion explored whether and how newly appointed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham could apply the Makerfield test to foreign policy.
Hosted by Sara Pantuliano, Chief Executive of ODI Global, the episode featured:
- Dr Roli Asthana, Senior Research Associate at SAIIA and Senior Advisor at ODI Global
- Laura Chappell, Associate Director for International Policy at the Institute for Public Policy Research
- Dr Kate Ferguson, Co-Executive Director of Protection Approaches
