British sport and soft power

This research project is designed to inform the British Council’s Youth and Sport platform and their understanding of the role sport can play in cultural relations, and to inform stakeholders and partners for the UK region using research findings and best practice. The British Council have awarded £20,000 in funding for this six-month project.

Project timeframe

This project commenced in January 2017 and will be completed in June 2017.

Project aims

The aim of this project is to provide an overview of British sport’s myriad roles in the promotion of British soft power by examining the ways in which governments support and organise policies around sport and how these contribute to the UK’s soft power and cultural relations profile of sport.

This project examines different departments in different national and local governments and the content of their policies on soft power and sport.

This project considers what has been successful and what has not had an impact in establishing greater cultural relations and soft power influence via various sport practices.

Project findings and impact

This project is ongoing; output, findings and impact will be updated in due course. The report was commissioned to inform the British Council’s strategic review on its sport and international development programmes.

Research team

Dr Thomas Carter

Output

Partners

Funded by the British Council