Soft Power

Persuasion and Power in the Modern World

The Royal Commonwealth Society - Persuasion and Power in the Modern World

In March 2014, the Select Committee on Soft Power and the UK’s Influence, chaired by Lord Howell of Guilford, published its report ‘Persuasion and Power in the Modern World’.

The report highlights that the Commonwealth is an ‘important venue in which member states can construct shared understandings on certain values and principles’.

The Royal Commonwealth Society, who gave evidence to the Select Committee, highlighted the depth and history of the Commonwealth’s civil society and business links, demonstrating how this distinguishes the Commonwealth from newer institutions such as the European Union and United Nations.

Click here to download the report of the Select Committee

Click here to read the evidence given by the RCS to the Select Committee

Many of the sentiments in the Select Committee’s report reiterated the underlying message in Lord Howell’s talk to RCS Bath in 2013; ‘Old Links and New Ties’.

Click here to read a transcript of Lord Howell’s talk to RCS Bath