Towards ‘Global Britain’ ? Theresa May and the UK’s Role in the World after Brexit

This paper seeks to examine Theresa May’s government foreign and defence policy choices in the light of decisions made by previous governments, especially the Conservative-led coalition, and assesses the impact of the June 2016 Brexit referendum. By adopting a role theory perspective on these events, the paper identifies the various institutional actors and the constraints on their action. It shows that the ‘Global Britain’ narrative is meant to meet the British public’s great power expectations. However, this narrative is far from supported by evidence and post-Brexit foreign and defence policy confirms and intensifies Britain’s already-growing isolation on the international stage.