The Perils of Soft Power

Any nation has an array of options for extending influence throughout the world: One is “hard power,” or military escalation. Another method, touted by a group led by Harvard Professor Joseph S. Nye Jr., is “soft power,” or cultural capital deployed across the globe. But soft power can produce antagonistic reactions. US movies, music and education may be popular in other nations, but world citizens do not necessarily rely on the US to shape their views on larger issues. The very dominance of any sort of power – soft or hard – can in fact lead to resentment and ridicule, as other cultures feel under attack. The spread of culture, or so-called soft power, does not necessarily lead to empathy, understanding or peace. – YaleGlobal