The World, Explained · 45 sec
Soft power
A small piece of context that makes the wider world easier to read.
The useful idea
- The useful idea
In politics, particularly in international politics, soft power is the ability to influence or persuade others through the use of persuasive means, as opposed to the use of force or coercion, which is an
- How it works
This process entails the strategic shaping of others' preferences through the use of appealing, non-coercive, and attractive means, using culture, political values, and foreign policies to enact change.
- Why it matters
In 2012, Joseph Nye of Harvard University explained that with soft power, "the best propaganda is not propaganda", further asserting that during the Information Age, "credibility is the scarcest resource".
Why this matters
Use Soft power as context when interpreting events and claims about the world.
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Use Soft power as context when interpreting events and claims about the world.
Test your recall
Which idea belongs to the explanation of Soft power?
- The useful idea — correct
- How it works
- Why it matters
In politics, particularly in international politics, soft power is the ability to influence or persuade others through the use of persuasive means, as opposed to the use of force or coercion, which is an