A Study On The British Council From The Perspective Of Cultural Diplomacy

Culture has become the most important and most popular element in the area of international relations since the end of the Cold War.Comparing with other European great powers,the British government slowed to embrace the concept of cultural diplomacy at the beginning,however,it caught up from behind and made great strides when it realized the importance of the cultural diplomacy.British Council,as the main cultural diplomacy agency of the United Kingdom,has operated effectively for eight decades and contributed greatly to the nation.This dissertation is mainly divided into two parts.The first part is the literal and theoretical review,which introduces the origins and significance of this study,recalls the research and academic achievements of cultural diplomacy,British cultural diplomacy and the British Council.This part provides the study foundation and frames the whole writing style of this dissertation.The second part is the main body of this study,including five chapters.Chapter One examines some related concepts about cultural diplomacy firstly and then focuses on details of British cultural diplomacy such as strategies,merits and practice.And all those analyses provide a useful background for the remaining chapters.The British Council is developed deeply from Chapter Two which begins with the foundation and evolution of this agency.Chapter Three explores the British Council’s role,status,construction,resources and operating conveniences.As a quasi-government agency,British Council possesses great advantages which can guarantee it run effectively and successfully.Chapter Four is concerned with the activities overseas of British Council.Several programs and projects are explored in detail.Chapter Five analyzes deeply how the agency works distinctively and what role it plays in the British diplomacy.Challenges to British Council now and enlightenment to China are discussed briefly at the end.