Insight articles

The growing demand for English in traditionally French-speaking North Africa offers huge opportunities. The language is a vector for democracy, free thinking – and UK influence and trade.

Alistair MacDonald reports on the highlights of the 3rd biennial International Culture Summit – including the UK Government’s promise to ratify the Hague Convention on cultural protection.

As British Council launches its Cultural Protection Fund to protect cultural heritage at threat from destruction, Stephen Stenning explains why it matters so much to preserve heritage.

As the Edinburgh Festival approaches, Alistair MacDonald explains how the city became a centre of world culture and the lessons about openness that can be learned from its golden age.

The UK’s memory of the Western Front is not matched by understanding of the war’s causes, its world-wide nature, or the ways events of 100 years ago still resonate today.

New research reveals that the vast majority of young people in the Middle East are worried about Daesh, but also about lack of jobs and opportunities. We evaluate one way of engaging them.

As higher education becomes ever more competitive, new research highlights the policies necessary to internationalise universities and the benefits to those countries which do so.

In the British Council Annual Lecture, Sir Ciarán Devane discusses the importance of cultural connections, and some of his predictions for the big issues of tomorrow.

A book of essays looks at the power of dialogue in times of insecurity and conflict and suggests that engagement has never been more important.

London Fashion Week underlines the UK's strength in fashion. We look at what clothing does for the UK's influence and prosperity and the enduring links between fashion and soft power.