Our blogs aim to highlight the rapid evolution of soft power and cultural relations amidst geopolitical shifts, technological disruptions, and global crises.
The United Kingdom's approach to international engagement faces unprecedented challenges amid shifting global dynamics and evolving diplomatic practices. This paper examines how the newly established UK Soft Power Council can address these challenges while maintaining Britain's historical strengths in cultural and educational influence. The analysis considers the implications of emerging diplomatic trends and proposes strategic responses to preserve and enhance the UK's soft power capabilities.
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The UK's global influence increasingly depends on its capacity to shape preferences and attract allies through soft power. Yet unlike economic policy, where the Institute for Fiscal Studies provides rigorous independent analysis, we lack a dedicated research centre studying how the UK can effectively deploy its cultural, diplomatic and institutional assets. While competitors like China invest heavily in understanding and projecting soft power, the UK's approach remains fragmented across universities, think tanks and government departments.
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The UK's universities stand at a pivotal moment in their role as engines of international knowledge exchange and research cooperation. With over 750,000 international students and 550,000 studying UK programmes overseas, British universities generate £24.1 billion in national exports through international education and transnational partnerships. Yet this commanding position faces mounting challenges that demand strategic intervention in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
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The return of Donald Trump to the White House raises significant questions about the future of US public diplomacy and its implications for the UK's soft power capabilities. Drawing on materials from conservative think tanks close to Trump, including the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and Project 2025, several key trends emerge that could reshape the transatlantic relationship and both nations' global influence.
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In an era defined by the urgent need for sustainable practices, the green transition—the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy—has emerged as a crucial global initiative. This transition is not merely an environmental imperative but a transformative force reshaping international relations and cultural diplomacy. As we navigate this evolving landscape, it becomes increasingly clear that the path forward lies in collective action, mutual understanding, and shared benefits rather than narrow national interests.
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In a move that could reshape the landscape of public diplomacy research and practice, the United States Department of State is taking steps to establish Federally Funded Research and Development Centres (FFRDCs) dedicated to supporting diplomatic practice and modernisation. This development, which marks a significant shift towards public-private research collaboration in US diplomacy, offers valuable insights for the UK and the broader community of public and cultural diplomacy researchers and practitioners.
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In an increasingly complex and volatile global landscape, how are countries adapting their soft power strategies? Our latest research at ICR Research Ltd offers some intriguing insights.
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In this blog, ICR Research network member Dr. Natalia Grincheva described the innovative approach to measuring the impact of South Korea’s Hallyu she has been working on for the Korea Foundation. This cutting-edge research is of interest to all involved in Digital and Public Diplomacy, and in Soft Power.
Image: Visualization (c) Natalia Grincheva | Data To Power application (c) Victoria Software
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As we face complex challenges like geopolitical instability, the ongoing effects of the global pandemic, and the looming threat of climate change, policymakers need sound, evidence-based advice more than ever.
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The notion of soft power, as originally conceived by Joseph Nye in the 1990s, is under scrutiny. At ICR Research we do both commissioned research and we contribute as far as we can to academic publications.
Image: Portrait of DoD Dr. Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs. (U.S. Army photo by Mr. Scott Davis) (Released) (PC-192361)
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Our new report for the British Council Soft Power at a Turning Point, dives into how countries are adapting to the world becoming more complex and competitive, with countries starting to rethink their sort power strategies.
Image attribution: Karl Schultz, Soft Power. Shared under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
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The first Knowledge Diplomacy Conference took place in Paris.
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The first question I was ever asked by an academic about cultural relations was: “is international cultural relations a normative proposition?” In the last few days, I have been playing around with GPT4 and BingAI, to see what they would come up with, and to start to assess what the impact of these new AIs would be for a research consultancy such as ICR Research.
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COP 27 raises many questions. Does COP work? Does it make any difference at all to global decision making? Does Cultural Relations have any role at all to play?
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