Scottish enlightenment
As the Edinburgh Festival approaches, Alistair MacDonald explains how the city became a centre of world culture and the lessons about openness that can be learned from its golden age.
Soft power
British Council annual lecture 2016
In the British Council Annual Lecture, Sir Ciarán Devane discusses the importance of cultural connections, and some of his predictions for the big issues of tomorrow.
All the world's
Research report: how Shakespeare is viewed around the globe and the role his work can play to support the UK’s soft power.
The power of fashion
London Fashion Week underlines the UK's strength in fashion. We look at what clothing does for the UK's influence and prosperity and the enduring links between fashion and soft power.
Churchill, culture and soft power
50 years after his death, a report examines the lessons that tomorrow's world leaders can learn from a statesman who understood the power of persuasion.
Shakespeare lives
Shakespeare is taught in half the world's classrooms. At the launch of a major programme of celebrations, we reveal how a man dead for 400 years is still the UK's greatest ambassador abroad.
Playing the game: the soft power of sport
Following the summer’s Ashes triumph and with the UK hosting the Rugby World Cup, we look at how sport can help further the UK’s international influence.
As others see us
Culture, attraction and soft power.