Understanding soft power discourse in the National Library of Australia

Abstract

PurposeThis paper presents research that sought to understand how the National Library of Australia engages with soft power in its Annual Report 2019–20. Driving the analysis was the research question: How is soft power discourse reproduced and enacted in the National Library of Australia's Annual Report 2019–20? The research recognises the significance of Australia's soft power, cultural diplomacy, and regional relationships to national interest in the context of a library's contributions to these areas.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a qualitative discourse analysis, with constructivist and interpretivist perspectives. A critical discourse analysis was undertaken that applied a discourse-historical approach.FindingsThe findings suggest that the National Library of Australia primarily engages with soft power discourse through the construction and preservation of an Australian national identity. National identity is framed as key to the Library's collection development, with Australian knowledge prioritised.Originality/valueThis study extends on research addressing the roles of galleries, archives, and museums in cultural diplomacy, but rarely examines soft power and libraries explicitly or in a contemporary context. It contributes to broader understandings of libraries in international relations and the role they can play in soft power attraction and cultural diplomacy.

Understanding US library diplomacy practices in the 21st century

“…Libraries and international relations have been comprehensively studied in the fields of LIS and political science. Libraries have been linked to concepts and theories of library internationalism (Laugesen, 2019: 167; Lor, 2019: 58), cultural internationalism (Lor, 2019: 526; Witt, 2014a: 506, 2014b: 276), cultural diplomacy and foreign cultural relations (Cummings, 2003: 1, 3; Melissen, 2005: 21–22), public diplomacy (Cull, 2008: 9, 11; Maack, 2001: 59), soft power (Bell, 2022: 1458; Bell and Kennan, 2022: 707), the internationalization of LIS education, and the discourses around international librarianship and international partnerships (Carroll et al, 2001; Lee and Bolt, 2016; Lor, 2008, 2019; Mattson and Hickok, 2018). Most of the research data and researchers’ interests have mainly focused on the US context in the 20th century, with a qualitative focus on historical and textual studies, and few quantitative and theoretical studies (Mariano and Vårheim, 2021: 657).…”

“…Soft-power diplomacy is one of the mainstream diplomatic strategies of state and non-state actors in the 21st century. It shapes preferences and influences the international community by attracting the global public through culture, values and ideals, utilizing galleries, libraries, archives and museums (Bell, 2022;Mariano, , 2022Nye, 2004Nye, , 2021. In the USA, libraries have traditionally been used as instruments for government and non-governmental institutions to build relations and influence foreign public opinion (Barnhisel and Turner, 2010;Chambers, 2016;Laugesen, 2019;Snow and Cull, 2020;Witt, 2014b).…”