Cultural diplomacy in dialogue: A conversation with Ian Thomas on cultural relations, soft power, and evidence

This editorial conversation examines how cultural diplomacy is defined, practised and evidenced through a dialogue with Ian Thomas (Research and Evaluation Lead for Global Arts, British Council). It traces the conceptual and practical slippages between cultural relations, cultural diplomacy and soft power, and considers how these shape what can be credibly claimed and measured. Thomas situates the British Council's work along a continuum shaped by its arm's-length status, which underpins credibility and long-term trust-building while also accommodating programmes that intersect with bilateral agendas and diplomatic infrastructures. The accompanying commentary locates these reflections within wider debates on cultural policy instrumentalism, dialogic diplomacy and the conceptual limits of soft power, arguing that an international perspective is both an epistemic requirement and a practical condition for meaningful cultural diplomacy. The piece concludes by underscoring dialogue and learning cultures within and across institutions and national borders as central to cultural diplomacy's legitimacy and impact.