Soft power and corporate imperialism: maintaining British influence

Abstract

International audienceIt is often suggested that Britain has lost its great power status since the fall of Empire. Yet, whilst its military and economic power has undoubtedly been weakened, it continues to exert power and influence and to promote national interests via the exercise of both hard and soft power. Far from representing a novel strategy, this simultaneous deployment of both forms of power may be considered as a continuation of the dual imperial strategy of gunboat diplomacy and winning hearts and minds at home and abroad. Yet, the postcolonial era does represent some novelty: as was clear under the Conservative-led coalition and is now evident under a Conservative majority government, soft power is no longer exercised principally via cultural diplomacy, through, for example, the British Council, but increasingly via large companies which promote British economic and political interests through corporate imperialism

In the shadow of empire: Global Britain and the UK business school

“…This then is the unspoken reality of Global Britain: not just a project to trade freely beyond Europe, but an integral part of a sustained and dangerous effort in the last few decades to satisfy a hunger for renewed imperial greatness as a basis for domestic economic prosperity. It is no surprise that, for some, ‘British imperialism remains alive and well’ (Bell, 2016: 76) although, of course, it is more accurate to speak of British ‘neo-imperialism’ or ‘neo-colonialism’. 5 The Global Britain project certainly indicates the imperialist impulse remains strong within segments of British society, and, as discussed above, entire sectors of the economy are currently being impregnated by it.…”

A Study on the Introduction and Institucionalization of Rugby in Brazil

“…Porém, ao contrário do futebol que conquistará uma popularidade global, o rugby ficará restrito, como modalidade de massas às ilhas britânicas e suas colônias, recebendo pouca atenção fora desse circuito, com três exceções importantes onde a modalidade se tornará uma das principais práticas esportivas. Argentina, que dada a influência cultural e econômica da Inglaterra no final do século XIX pode ser considerada uma colônia informal 12 , França onde encontrará uma ampla aceitação nas comunidades agrícolas do sul 13 e Japão cuja modalidade terá como patrono o príncipe Chichibu, segundo filho do Imperador Taishō, que terá contato com a modalidade na Inglaterra, sendo peça chave na sua popularização no Japão 11 . Fora dessas regiões o rugby terá muitas dificuldades em se expandir, ficando restrito principalmente à comunidade de expatriados britânicos.…”

“…Não se julgue, porém, que nelle se empenharam um troço de imbecis contra uma turba dos inconscientes, não! Esse "match" memorial de introdução do "rugby" teve a honra de ser jogado pela "elite" dos "sportmans" paraense, alguns até há muito afastados do sport, A modernização das cidades brasileiras no final do século XIX e a adoção dos novos ideais burgueses pelas elites urbanas, em contraponto com as práticas atreladas às velhas elites rurais 12 contribuiriam para a difusão das mais diversas práticas esportivas, porém o rugby não encontraria condições de se fixar, sendo praticado apenas de maneira esporádica e com caráter festivo, segundo os relatos encontrados.…”

Revolting Against Imperialism and Capitalism in Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows (2011)

“…In relation to the idea, for the past decades, British imperialism has actually lost its grip on the soft power of their monarchy constitution, since the fall of the empire (Bell, 2016). Indeed, the British no longer possess the same level of influence in manipulating other foreign countries and the people as they did before the 21 st century.…”

“…Indeed, the British no longer possess the same level of influence in manipulating other foreign countries and the people as they did before the 21 st century. Still, the signs have been shown through their excessive use of hard power in supplying weaponry, engaging warfare, and igniting military force (Bell, 2016). The fact is symbolized by the very presence of Moriarty acting as the powerful villain who wishes to create a transnational discord by providing the supply of weapons and waging war.…”