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This Library Note provides background reading for Baroness Taylor of Bolton’s debate on the level of co-ordination between government departments on the use of soft power. The Note defines soft power, and examines what the current Government has said about the role of soft power in its foreign policy. It also considers how the UK compares to other countries in terms of soft power. The second half of the Note deals with the co-ordination of soft power across Government and examines the effects of specific policies on soft power, including the impact of the Spending Review on overseas aid, the British Council and the World Service.

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