Remembrance, soft power, and war
Why soft power matters more than ever in an increasingly unstable world, and how trust, understanding and international cooperation can help build lasting peace.
Insight article
From familiarity to trust: Why arts and creative industries matter for the UK's soft power
At a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty and competition for global influence, investing in cultural relations and the creative industries is not a peripheral activity.
Between theory and practice: ICRRA at the International Conference on Cultural Policy Research in Ottawa
Reflections on the 2026 International Cultural Policy Research Conference
Culture-Based Climate Action: A Turning Point for Global Climate Ambition
This article discusses the many ways the British Council connects cultural actors, policymakers, researchers and communities across borders in support of the global climate ambition.
Listening is where connection begins: reflections on the 2026 Development Studies Association (DSA) conference
The Development Studies Association conference (2026) brought over 500 researchers, practitioners and policymakers to Dublin to reflect on questions of adaptation, resilience and future.
What a rural Japanese town can teach us about English education
Learn about a curriculum reform project in Mount Koya, Japan, to understand how challenges in English language education can be addressed.
Measuring soft power in an age of destruction: Why trust matters, and why its character matters more
The question of trust in soft power has never been more urgent or more complex. Three leading scholars reflect on what this means today.
Assessing multimodal viewing-to-write constructs: task design, performance, processing, and rating
This study explores how to design and assess multimodal viewing-to-write tasks, reflecting real-world communication that integrates visual, spoken, and written skills.
Education as soft power: Why the UK’s International Education Strategy matters
What is the connection between UK schools, colleges, universities, and global influence? Hear from Michael Peak on the recent publication of the UK's International Education Strategy.
Rethinking EMI assessment: From proficiency scores to academic literacy
As English-medium instruction expands worldwide, this article questions how readiness and success are judged, scores to academic literacy as a fairer way to assess EMI.