Understanding Soft Power in Global Relations

Soft Power

• Described as seduction on an international scale
• Relies on cooperation, attraction, and influence, rather than coercion or force
• The U.S. remains a significant force
• Diversifying sources of power is key to soft power strategies
• Examples include initiatives like “Panda Diplomacy”

Nye Article (2002 Context)

• Openness to cooperate contrasts with resorting to military force
• Reinforces U.S. power through influence rather than military might
• Recommends another course of action as limits are present, but maintains that military power remains relevant
• Smart Power integrates military and economic strength but also focuses on soft power
• Roosevelt's administration (FDR), established positive relationships with other nations, especially in Latin America demonstrated by the "good neighbor policy"
• Credibility and legitimacy are crucial for influence
• The information age can lend a critical aspect of soft power

Soft Power in the Information Age

• Ability of a country to shape preferences through attraction, crucial in the information age
• Global access to information accelerates narratives and shapes public opinion
• Social media amplifies non-state actors, complicating governmental control of image
• Transparency and accountability impact a country's reputation regarding interventions and foreign policy

The Iraq War (2003)

• Demonstrated the limits of soft power when military intervention is seen as unjustified
• The U.S. justification for the invasion (Weapons of Mass Destruction) was discredited, damaging trust
• Global protests and widespread criticism eroded U.S. influence, even among allies
• Media coverage (e.g., Abu Ghraib) and international opposition weakened U.S. moral authority

Respecting Other Opinions and Allies

• Essential for soft power effectiveness, maintaining alliances is crucial
• Multilateralism (engaging with allies like NATO, UN) enhances legitimacy
• Cultural diplomacy and shared values foster mutual respect
• Listening to different perspectives helps craft credible policies

Future Implications

• Technology will amplify soft power battles
• Perceptions matter more than ever in shaping influence
• Allies will act as key soft power multipliers through cooperation

Conclusion

• The future of soft power relies on adapting to the digital era, respecting opinions, and engaging constructively with allies
• The Iraq War highlights the risks of neglecting these aspects
• Unilateralism strategy has an echo with the Trump election.

Reflexions on the roots of Power:

• Hard and soft power are two very different things.
• What produces power – military resources, demography, context, globalization, the information age, diffusion of power?
• “Power over the others” vs “powers with others”
• Global Interdependence makes the "power with others" approach more effective.
• "Power over others" is domination and constraint.
• "Power with others" is cooperation and influence.

Emergence of Soft Power

• Joseph Nye's 'Bound To Lead, the Changing Nature of American Power' (1990) discusses soft and hard power in the context of shifting powers
• Spain in the 16th century and the Netherlands in the 17th century is soft power and what they had to rely on.

E.H. Carr and Context in Power Dynamics

• Power is always contextual, evolving with historical, political, and economic circumstances
• He originally discussed military, economic, and opinion-based power in the early 20th C, but the environment shifted, causing the emergence of Smart Power.

Globalization and Interdependence:

• Military force is less likely when economies are linked
• Digital media making the public opinions increasingly influential
• Transnational Issues are forcing a re-evaluation, and making sure more power is achieved through cooperation.

Smart Power in Action:

• US post-Cold War era employs military tools with cultural diplomacy
• China's Belt and Road Initiative uses economics and culture
• EU employs economics tools to shape norms

Communication Means

• The internet has led to diffusion of power and is necessarily from the government
• EU8 is the eight most influential EU countries in terms of soft power
• ESZ refers to the Emerging Seven powers in soft power
• HP12 refers to the countries most dominant in hard power
• MP13 refers to the 13 Middle Power nations with a combination of soft and hard power
• Machiavelli, Lao Tzu, Weber all considered soft power

Max Weber

• Max Weber (1864-1920) was one of the founders of sociology who studied authority and power
• Three major aspects of legitimate rule are the types of authority

Types of Legitimate Domination & Willingness to Obey

• Traditional: Obey because "That is how it has always been" long standing
• Charismatic: Obey because of the extraordinary qualities and inspiration of the leader
• Legal-Rationale: Obey because the rules and laws are seen as fair and legitimate

A. Gramsci (1891-1937)

• Ruling class rules over classes through cultural, political and moral values
• Hegemony is a product of consent rather than just coercion

E.H. Carr and Power in International Relations

• Focused on Military Power, Economic Power, and power over opinion.
• It involves convincing and controlling the narrative it's not coercive expect propaganda

Shaping Perceptions Without Coercion

• Carr recognized that power is not just about coercion (Hard Power), but also about shaping beliefs and perceptions.
• Influenced by convincing people through narratives instead of using force with them

Power Over Opinion In Action

• The media influences people's ideas on how they perceive the current affairs and conflicts
• Culture influences society to conform to the cultural views
• Political Legitimacy employs power over opinion to actions for the collective betterment of humanity.

Power Over Opinion and Hard Power

• The US employs Hollywood and Military alliances to maintain global influence.
• USSR employs media and military in Ukraine.

DAHL:

• Argued that power in a democracy is not held by a single ruling class but disperes among competing group.
• Introduced the concept of Polyarchy which is a form of government where competing groups participate in making decisions.

Steven Luke

• Proposed a “third face of power", i.e. power as three dimensional: Decision making, Agenda setting
• Agenda setting involves controlling the parameters in which decisions arr made Thought control involves preventing conflicts by shaping how people think.

Bourdieu

• Symbolic power: power is created culturally
• Understand Power dynamics: Understanding bourdieu's concept helps to understanding the social hierarchy maintained

3. Integrative Power

• Integrative power refers to the ability to bond people for the purpose of partnership throughout with empathy.
• Is the product of shared values, social intelligence
• Leadership, confict resolution, community building are the result.

Joseph Nye's soft power:

• Is only built on academic research that can have multiple positive benefits
• A successful academic theory will take into account the political realm and the media.

Joseph nye:

• Countries succeed if they admire each other, emultating their ideals
• Co opting means people are brought on board by those qualities.

Influence (Tom Quirk)

• Leaders can shape behaviour through their decisions
• Hard and Soft power influence creates relationships in the modern world

Push vs. pull`*

• States can seek out the right strategies to gain the best influence with partners
• Align with soft power when states are getting people to side with the goal with persuasion.

Steven Bram's theory of moves (1993) chess and threats.

• Chess power shows the way that we can make sure that governments will act in the world
• Need credible threats to make successful plays on the world stage with a strong dynamic state.

Spielberg and China

• Steven helped china by writing a letter for them to have the olympics
• Due to issues of ethical nature he expressed extreme levels of concern regarding the country's human right's measures.

Realims/tools;

• Soft power resources can assist in the product of traction
• Culture , politics, and education all must work in tandem

Foreign Police Models;

• Political power are what drive power with the help of emotional intelligence.
• Communication is what makes sure that political reach goes to every corner of the globe.

Pax Americana =?

• There is a dominant power with their authority.
• All power is the product of hegemonic nature of war.

Key Concepts

• Berlin is a significant example of a hegmon in the Cold war.
• Rome has always been an example of using its resources in war to the next hegemonic position.
• Good governance ensures that people follow the rules and obey the law.

China

• Enacted a way to try improve its power that did not depend on military
• Encompased different diplomatic strategies to work to the country's vision of power, and a stable region

Soft Power

• There are always different options to go in the right direction to improve international relations, its always about allies cooperating.
• Its about all parties respecting the way people are valued and must show diplomacy.