Liam Chen

World Affairs Reporter

Liam Chen covers geopolitics, diplomacy and global development, with a focus on making complex international stories accessible.

81 articles

Politics

What Is Lobbying?

Lobbying is the practice of trying to influence the decisions of government on behalf of an interest or cause. Here is how…

Liam Chen · · 6 min read
Politics

What Is a Political Manifesto?

A manifesto is the public list of promises a party makes before an election. Here is what a manifesto contains, why it matters…

Liam Chen · · 6 min read
Politics

How the UK Civil Service Works

The civil service is the permanent body of officials that runs the machinery of government, whoever is in power. Here is how it…

Liam Chen · · 5 min read
Politics

What Is a Think Tank?

A think tank is an organisation that researches policy and tries to influence public debate and government decisions. Here is…

Liam Chen · · 6 min read
Politics

What Is a Select Committee?

Select committees are cross-party groups of MPs that scrutinise the government and hold powerful people to account. Here is how…

Liam Chen · · 6 min read
Politics

What Is a Coalition Government?

A coalition government is one formed by two or more parties that agree to govern together, usually because no single party won a…

Liam Chen · · 6 min read
World

What Is the World Trade Organization?

The World Trade Organization sets the rules for global trade and settles disputes between countries. Here is what the WTO does…

Liam Chen · · 5 min read
World

What Is a Currency Peg?

A currency peg ties one country's exchange rate to another currency to keep it stable. Here is how pegs work, why governments use…

Liam Chen · · 6 min read