Britain's new government, new White Paper, new aid? Eliminating world poverty: A challenge for the 21st century

The November 1997 White Paper (WP) Eliminating world poverty: a challenge for the 21st century is only the third ever substantive WP on Britain's aid policy. It offers a focus on poverty, emphasises partnerships for sustainable development and ranges over far wider issues than just aid. It makes some significant departures from previous White Papers by Labour governments, partly reflecting a changed Labour Party but also following an evolution that is taking place in international development cooperation more generally. The 1997 White Paper also displays some continuities with the past, however. Policy effectiveness will depend inter alia on circumstances external to the UK and on the Department for International Development's political effectiveness in central government. The low profile of international development in political studies in the UK could also improve if proposals to increase public awareness of global interdependence take effect.