The House of Lords Select Committee on Soft
Power and the UK’s Influence is today publishing its Report,
‘Persuasion and Power in the Modern World’. The Committee found
that British influence and effectiveness in a changed world now requires
different methods of exercising power, in order to safeguard national security
and maintain prosperity.
What is soft power?
While strong Armed Forces remain the bedrock in
safeguarding national interests, the Report argues that new kinds of power
projection are now required, both to make the use of force ('hard
power') more effective and in some instances to replace it with the
deployment of what has been labelled 'soft power'. As the Chinese
General and strategist Sun Tzu long ago reminded us, "The supreme art of
war is to subdue the enemy without fighting."
Soft power involves getting what a country wants by
influencing other countries to want the same thing, through attraction,
persuasion and co-option.
The
Committee says that the information and digital revolution has transformed
international relations and foreign policy, meaning that the UK must win over
new and wider audiences to its point of view. The Report points out that
countries worldwide have re-directed resources towards soft power methods of
influence.
The
UK
The
UK must follow suit in changing the way it interacts with other nations and
communities, and is well-equipped to do so. Among the UK’s many soft
power strengths, the Report singles out:
- its
successful creative industries;
- the
adoption of English as a global working language;
- its
membership of the two and a quarter billion strong Commonwealth network and
numerous other international communities;
- its
enduring institutions, including the monarchy and legal
system;
- its
high-grade agencies of cultural communication such as the BBC World Service and
the British Council;
- its
commitment to international development and the work of its non-governmental
organisations;
- its
pre-eminence in the scientific, artistic, sporting and research
fields;
- and
its universities and world-wide educational links.
The
Report argues that soft power methods of exercising international influence
must now be combined with older approaches in order to secure and promote the
UK’s interests and purposes. To ensure it does not waste its soft power
advantages the UK must also tell a better story about itself.
Too
often its reputation – and its power to attract and influence – are
damaged by negative messages, or by the neglect of key assets. Visa and
immigration policies, as presently handled, can detract from the vital message
that the UK is open for business.
The
Report therefore warns that if the Government do not face the facts of the
transformed international order, the UK will risk finding itself outwitted,
out-competed, and increasingly insecure.
Recommendations
To
ensure that the exercise of soft power takes its place at the core of
government policy-making, the Report calls for the creation of a new strategic
unit at the heart of Government. Its purpose would be to assist the Prime
Minister in ensuring all Departments understand the importance of soft power
and of upholding the UK’s reputation, and in swiftly counteracting any
potentially damaging policies or messages.
While investing in soft power takes time to produce
results, the Report urges the Government to make a number of important
changes:
- The
Committee welcomes the growing number of British embassies and
consulates, but urges that embassies be fully resourced as they become
more central to the UK’s aims.
- The
Committee endorses the widespread view that international students
be removed from net migration targets.
- The
Report calls for stronger recognition of the potential of the
Commonwealth network, which opens the door to new fast-growth world
markets. It urges stronger Government support forBritish
English. It also welcomes the re-opening of the FCO
Language Centre.
- The
Committee urges the Government and the BBC to ensure between them
that the BBC World Service’s budget is not
reduced any further in real terms. The Government must also ensure that
the British Council is properly resourced, and
support and encourage the UK’s creative
industries.
- The
Committee calls for a review of how well the MOD,
the FCO and DFID have cooperated
in Afghanistan.
- The
Committee also calls on UKTI to encourage more follow-up work
after trade missions.
- The
Report suggests that the UK should act with greaterconfidence on the
international stage, while building its relationships with both old
allies and new partners.