Globalisation and new technology has had another impact on good governance. Regimes which govern by fear and repression will not achieve the creativity and innovation essential for successful knowledge-based economies. Respect for human rights is therefore not a luxury of growth, but the condition of that growth. So the message that Labour Ministers like me carry abroad is that human rights make humans rich. Also that trade and investment require competition, transparency and the rule of law.
Good governance wins international investor confidence.
Critical engagement in the world s affairs the pursuit of political dialogue wherever it can produce benefits is the business we are in. Labour s policy of diplomacy for democracy is in the best British tradition of standing for democracy, free speech and the rule of law. We support human rights and democracy for other people because these are the values we demand for ourselves. And we reject the cynical view that, because we cannot make the world perfect, we should stop trying to make it better. We cannot put everything right, but we can make a difference.