Britain is now the most powerful nation on earth read the headlines in many of the Sunday papers today. It all relates to an annual survey in a US magazine where Britain has beaten the US to the top spot of ‘global soft power’. Soft power describes how countries use attraction and persuasion, rather than coercion or payment.
I rather like being part of a nation which comes top by this measure - rather than for its military might or the size of its cheque book. We got the prize this year because of the real good the Olympics did to Britain’s global standing. But it also takes into account the huge regard that the world has for our music, TV, films, sport, our heritage, monarchy etc. I’d also like to feel that we still have some of the reputation we used to have for fair play and good counsel too.
Even if we don’t have very many mega global tech companies, our contribution to technology – not just in the past but today too – is also recognised. If only we as a nation – and our many up and coming UK-HQed tech companies – could build on this global soft power. Who knows, our future really could be very bright.