ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE AS THE UNITED KINGDOM’S SOFT POWER INSTRUMENT

Abstract

The attractiveness of the English Premier League as the most watched league in the world help the UK to be the number 1 in soft power according to Monocle surpassing the US in 2012. The English Premier League has attracted broadcasting industries, visitors to come to UK and has built Premier Skills programme. These three sectors have been recognised by the house of Lords in up-lifting the UK soft power in 2013. This thesis attempts to analyze the contributions given by the English Premier League to the United Kingdom as British soft power. The Premier League has become a global phenomenon that exists today. It attracts so many sectors from different fields such as broadcasting and tourism. The UK take the advantage of its best export, the Premier League. Broadcasting Industries compete each other to broadcast the most watched league in the globe. The beauty of the Premier League also amaze overseas fans and make them want to visit the UK to see the matches live. This thesis is significant in providing detailed information about the contributions of the English Premier League in supporting the UK to bests the world’s soft power. This thesis is significant in describing how the broadcasting sector, tourism sector and the Premier Skills benefit the country. How these sectors keep on increasing to contribute to the UK is also described. This thesis is also significant in describing what factors that make the Premier League as a global phenomenon. As the most happening sporting competition in the world, it is important to highlight why the Premier League is so famous. Internet research however was utilized in completing necessary data and analyzing historical records. The results of this thesis will explain what are the contributions of the Premier League in up-lifitng the United Kingdom soft power.