The importance of the British Council in Britain's cultural diplomacy - Essay Example

? of Significance of British Council in Britain Cultural Diplomacy Cultural diplomacy is imperative for states in order to achieve opportunities and broader prospects of business, education etc. from different parts of the world. It will not be incorrect to state that cultural diplomacy is as important for a country as its foreign policy. It is due to the fact that both maintain peaceful international relationship of a respective country with other countries in terms of politics, economics, education etc. British Council is one of the renowned cultural diplomacy tools of United Kingdom that has had a prestigious history of marinating peaceful relationship of UK with other countries. This paper aims to discuss the role of British Council in conducting cultural diplomacy for UK. The analysis would be done by closely looking at the historical highlights and achievements of British Council. Furthermore, its significance would also be studied in the paper within the context of its foreign policy. British Council is referred to the international cultural body of United Kingdom that was initiated in order to represent UK’s culture in different parts of the world. British Council is basically an independent council which is public in its scope. It should be noted that British Council is closely working with government. The role of government in administrating British Council is in terms of selecting countries where cultural diplomatic activities can be undertaken (Taylor, Cultural Diplomacy and the British Council:). The goals and missions of British Council have common agenda of conducting cultural diplomacy for UK in international world order to develop a positive image of UK (Ager). British Council is also considered as an intermediary of foreign policy department of United Kingdom as its concept was discussed and passed at the foreign diplomatic organization of UK. British Council was initiated at the time when many other cultural organizations from France and counterparts of Europe were actually becoming victorious in conducting cultural diplomacy across the globe. It can be said that British Council was initiated as an inspired project from the existing cultural organizations of French and Germans in late 1920s (Hecht and Donfried). In actual terms, British Council was initiated in 1934 in order to introduce different countries with Britain’s standard of education and its culture. The core goals of representing education and cultural standing of Britain were achieved by organizing expedition tasks, concerts, art exhibitions, tutorials and lectures etc (Hecht and Donfried). The primary focus of British Council in the initial stages was to give coverage to the Middle Eastern countries and underdeveloped countries of Europe where much assistance for education was needed during 1950s (Thomas). The working process of British Council was majorly indirect in its initial stages until it started to operate in its own offices. Earlier, a number of consulates were being worked through by British Council which relatively slowed down its working mechanism. Obviously, it was a very crucial stage for British Council to begin operating from its own offices in different locations of the world (Levermore and Budd). It was for this reason that the organization collected information regarding different communities of the world at the first place to give preference to location. After getting an augment idea through research regarding different communities, British Council resumed its operation through offices opened abroad. In this series, the first office of British Council was opened at Egypt. It should be noted that the working criteria of British Council got complicated as international politics was heading towards World War II (Levermore and Budd). A great deal of barriers was noted in the working process of British Council as World War II led in the closure of most of its offices in Middle East and Mediterranean countries. It should be noted that even in circumstances of turmoil, British Council did not halt its operations and made sure that educational activities were undertaken for people in different camps. British Council continued its educational activities and initiated its assistance centers in many locations including London, Oxford, and Burmighum etc. These assistance centers were still operating in the post war era (Stephens). Previously, it was also noted that British Council had to operate to achieve its goal with no funding assistance from the government. Until 1944, British Council was working in limited locations as most of the offices were shut down due to lack of funds. By the end of 1944, British Council was given another chance to resume its services and for this reason, a new charter was provided to the organization (Duignan and Gann). This was another chance for British Council to carefully assess its goals and achieving them. But lack of funding still became as a barrier in the working of British Council. This was the same reason for which it had to shut down his offices at abroad. Some underlying issues included political reason as well which deteriorated British Council framework in different parts of the world. Countries from where British Council was expelled were Eastern Europe, China etc. There were several allegations posed on British Council in terms of commission reports from the opposing governments (Taylor). The dialogue was conducted in order to prove the working mechanism of British Council as positive for international relation of UK with different parts of the world. It was for this reason that British Council was given another chance to operate as a cultural diplomatic tool of UK. However, the reestablishment of British Council was limited to some goals only as previous encounters were termed as highly controversial in this account of British Council (Martel). The above mentioned history of British Council has made it evident that it had worked under intense pressure. The highlight of consecutive efforts of British Council focuses only one goal of representing UK’s norms and cultural values to international state system. The purpose behind British Council’s active participation in different countries for educational reforms was to conduct cultural propaganda. The main idea behind cultural propaganda was to show positive British interests which were blurred by growing misunderstandings during and after World War II. It was noted that the continuous effort made by British Council was to maintain a positive image of UK in international politics (Ager). United Kingdom has always made sure that the cultural diplomacy is given much significance and it is for this purpose that it relies heavily on the diplomatic activities of British Council. The role of British Council in conducting cultural diplomacy for UK has gone a long way. By looking at the recent statistical information, it could be said that British Council has now reaches more than 53 states where different events are being conducted to represent motives of UK in spreading international peace. British Council has conducted cultural diplomacy for UK in a manner of national advertisement. In other words, it could be said that British Council advertises the goals and interests of UK in spreading international peace (Snow and Taylor). As per the statistics, British Council has played a vital role in spreading cultural notions and values of UK around the world. Most importantly, UK has been famous for its attractive assets of sports, education and rich cultural background (evident from the architectural aspect). British Council has always been constructive in creating a positive image of UK by investing in the above noted assets. British Council has been able to attract a great deal of population to its interesting programs of English learning examinations and exhibitions of cultural heritage (Duignan and Gann). British Council has a highly professional team of instructors who have given lectures to wider number of teachers all around the world. In Afghanistan, British Council has been able to provide teaching instructions to more than 10,000 teachers who have now become professionals in their classroom skills. This has been done by carefully evaluating talent of teachers in Afghanistan and designing respective programs. These programs are not just limited to Afghanistan but other Asian countries as well. Pakistan, Bangladesh and other Asian countries are on the top most focused countries of British Council in recent times. Special programs of leadership skill courses have been introduced in their countries. This would allow the citizens of the chosen countries to make a difference in their own country by leading organizations (Duignan and Gann). British Council has also enabled underdeveloped countries such as Burma, Sudan etc. that are struggling in terms of education to get benefits of the British standard of education. This allows underdeveloped countries to develop a positive judgment about UK. This sustains peace between other countries and U which is the ultimate goal of British Council. Assistance of UK in the educational setup of other countries shows that UK has very productive interests for other countries. Other countries have developed a very constructive onset regarding UK i.e. its main focus is to help other countries to benefit and develop from the educational and cultural setup of Britain. This image and proposition has been spread by British Council which makes it a reliable tool for cultural diplomacy (Snow and Taylor). It should be noted that culture is a mixture of collective behavior of a community. This includes sports to a larger extent and thus makes UK society similar to other countries. British Council has enabled sports figures to become inspirational ambassadors for other states so that they can maximize the spirit of sportsmanship. It should be noted that games have always been a way of communication and relationship between empires in old world order. This legacy is evident in the contemporary world as well. British Council has made use of this attractive asset of Britain and enabled UK to become connected to foreign countries by initiating sports championships (Hecht and Donfried). In order to sustain successful political relationship with other countries, British Council has structured its charter as foreign policy. Initiatives are being undertaken as a form of effective communication of peaceful ideas. It will not be incorrect to state that British Council should be given the credit for spreading a positive and a very constructive image of UK in the world. British Council has previously made use of exchange of knowledge and ideas among different countries which have given out a message of sustainable development. The employees of British Council are playing the roles of delegates who invite world to get aware of the cultural notions of British. Also, the agenda of British Council within the context of foreign policy offers assistance and brotherly relations with other states. This develops understanding of UK economic front and other societal institutions outlook towards international peace (Levermore and Budd). In other words, it could be said that British Council has used culture to conduct diplomacy so that new way outs for trade, exchange of ideas and shared development becomes a reality. Absence of British Council in the cultural diplomacy seems impossible because it would not have been possible if British Council would not have introduced educational reforms. Also, sharing of cultural knowledge of UK with other states in the world has made cultural diplomacy of UK successful (Hecht and Donfried). Through the above in-depth analysis of the role of British Council, it can be said that British Council is synonymous to UK foreign policy. As evident from the history of British Council, it has been involved in sending out a clear message of peace and sustainable development in the world. British Council has enabled UK to communicate and exchange opportunistic prospects of business, education, culture, sports etc. with other countries (both developed and underdeveloped). British Council was under operation despite critical circumstances of Second World War. This proves that the motives of British Council were to spread harmony through dialogue about culture and education. British Council’s role in development of educational setup in different underdeveloped countries has allowed UK to become active in terms of political relationship with other countries. In a nutshell it can be said that British Council has worked as a cultural diplomatic tool for UK that has allowed its interest to be communicated positively to the international community. Works Cited Ager, D. Language Policy in Britain and France: The Processes of Policy. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 1996. Duignan, P and L. Gann. The rebirth of the West: the Americanization of the democratic world, 1945-1958. New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 1996. Hecht, E and M. Donfried. Searching for a Cultural Diplomacy. London: Berghahn Books, 2010. Levermore, R and A. Budd. Sport and international relations: an emerging relationship. New York: Routledge, 2004. Martel, G. A companion to international history 1900-2001. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2007. Snow, N and P. Taylor. Routledge handbook of public diplomacy. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2009. Stephens, M. Culture, education, and the state. New York: Taylor & Francis, 1988. Taylor, P. "Cultural Diplomacy and the British Council:." British Journal of International Studies 4.3 (1978): 244-265. —. Global communications, international affairs and the media since 1945. New York: Routledge, 1997. Thomas, V. Britain and Latin America: A Changing Relationship. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Read More