zlacker

The UK government used to greatly believe in “soft power” in that their global influence would be improved through familiarity with British media, values and teaching, using the BBC World Service and organisations like the British Council.

So yes, essentially propaganda, but in the same way Hollywood is.

>>teamon+(OP)
There's a "state of the world" forum post from a famous author years ago talking about how the UK used to be the adults in the room, how countries went to them and asked them for advice; and how they were seemingly actively shedding their reputation to be the US's aircraft carrier, opening their legs for any oligarch. I think this was written during Cameron's rule, and of course the facepalming got even harder with BoJo and Liz Lettuce Truss.