Nobody could ever accuse Tony Blair of lacking ambition or a sense of his own worth. Since his resignation as British prime minister in 2007, Blair has carved out a new role for himself as a self-appointed tutor to the governments of the world. The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), launched in 2016, defines its mission in the following terms: “To equip political leaders and governments with the tools they need to create open, inclusive and prosperous societies in a globalised world.” Blair’s goal is to help forge a transnational ruling class around a shared sense of values and interests. The TBI recently published its report for the year ending in 2019, which it described as “a pivotal year” for the Institute’s work.

Blair’s own track record in recent years may indicate what kind of advice and training the TBI is supplying to its beneficiaries.