Soft Power

SOFT POWER

Discuss the following questions with a partner

Do you think countries or governments try to persuade other countries?

How might they do that without using force or money?

Describe the difference between soft power and hard power and give examples of each.

Think about examples of soft power in the following categories

Culture
Political values/ideology
Foreign Policy
Education
Innovation

Think about how each category contributes to a country's attractiveness.

France
Italy
China

USA
South Korea
Japan
Germany

Look at the list of countries below

What are the sources of soft power for this country?

How does it influence other countries?

What are its strengths and weaknesses in wielding soft power?

Discuss the following questions

1 Can soft power always achieve what hard power can? When might it fall short?

2 Can soft power be "weaponized" or used for negative influence (e.g., propaganda, cultural imperialism)?

3 Is soft power always intentional, or can it be an accidental byproduct of a country's values and culture?

4 How can a country build its soft power?

5 What are the ethical considerations of wielding soft power?

1 Think about a country you admire or are interested in. What makes that country appealing to you? Is it their culture, their achievements, their values, or something else?
2 Why do you think some countries are seen as 'cool' or 'desirable' around the world, even if they don't have the biggest military or the strongest economy?
3 Have you ever seen a movie, listened to music, or used a product from another country that made you feel more positively about that country? What was it, and why?
4 Consider the Olympic Games or the World Cup. Countries compete, but they also showcase their culture and hospitality. Why is that important? What kind of 'power' is being demonstrated there?