How the British Council Made a Soft Power Superpower
The British Council was founded to help the world better understand Britain and to fight fascism. As times changed, so did its remit.
In 2021, the government’s Integrated Review – published with the title ‘Global Britain in a Competitive Age’ – described the UK as a ‘soft power superpower’. The review justified this assessment by singling out the UK’s strengths in the arts and sciences, as well as the BBC, the number of foreign students studying at UK universities and the nation’s sporting achievements.