New British Council report on cultural relations in development
As global development evolves, the quest for sustainable and inclusive growth continues to challenge traditional paradigms, urging exploration of innovative pathways to building trust and international cooperation. It is within this context that the British Council has sought to interrogate the underlying validity and potential of a Cultural Relations approach to development.
The report, entitled A Cultural Relations Approach to Development: Why and how the British Council method to development works, aims to assess the efficacy of the Cultural Relations approach to development work and begin the conversation of how to embed it within the broader development discourse. The report introduces a high level ‘Theory of Change’ for Cultural Relations in development and a framework which not only positions Cultural Relations as a foundational element in the architecture of international development strategies but elucidates the mechanisms through which this approach also delivers soft power.
The implications of these findings extend beyond the confines of the British Council. They offer a call to the entire development sector to recognise and harness the power of Cultural Relations.