Professor Philip Seib, director of the Center on Public Diplomacy, co-wrote a Feb. 29 Huffington Post article about the British Council’s value as cultural “soft power.” "Britain's own articulate and diverse citizenry gives the British Council a depth of cultural resource that few countries can draw upon," wrote Seib and co-author Martin Davidson. "Cultural diversity at home fosters an understanding of the importance of listening to different points of view in other nations. "To listen requires both pride in British values, and the quiet self-confidence to acknowledge dissent. Independence may rile some bureaucrats, but it helps ensure the effectiveness of Britain's soft power." Read the article