Commerce and Cultural Diplomacy: The British Council in Iran during the 1970s

Abstract

This article examines UK cultural diplomacy in Iran during the 1970s. As the primary UK-based agency operating in this field, it pays particular attention to the British Council’s activities. The paper examines how escalating oil prices in the 1973–4 Arab Oil Embargo’s wake compelled the agency to move away from English language teaching provision and more towards cultural policies. Anthony Parsons, the UK Ambassador to Iran, helped frame these initiatives. Together, they organised the 1977 Festival of Britain in Tehran, which showcased high-brow British culture. The paper makes three key points. First, it illustrates the extent economic imperatives shape UK cultural diplomacy. Second, it reveals the UK Embassy and British Council’s reticence to interact with Iranians, with framing events like the Festival of Britain as purely commercial opportunities. Finally, the paper demonstrates how popular indifference, combined with the Iranian Revolution’s outbreak, undermined the UK’s cultural diplomacy campaign.