Hard Power, Soft Power, and Smart Power
Hard Power
Hard power is a concept within international relations that is ascribed to the use of tangible resources (military or economic) to influence the behavior of others. This might come in the form of economic tariffs, threats or use of military interventions, or trade embargoes.
Soft Power
Soft power utilises persuasion and attraction rather than coercion and force which hard power typically relies on. Soft power uses tools such as agenda setting, media, and diplomacy to influence others. Coined by Joseph Nye he argues that soft power is split into three categories:
- Culture – art, literature, sport
- Political Values – human rights, governance principles
- Foreign Policy – international aid, alliances
Smart Power
Smart power is a combination of both soft and hard power tactics as political theorist Joseph Nye argues that neither one can be sufficient on its own. Smart power is increasingly used in international relations as it helps bolster legitimacy and is highly adaptable in an increasingly globalized world.
Examples of Each
- K-pop = soft power
- Naval blockades = hard power
- USAID = soft power
- The Marshall Plan = smart power
- Tariffs = hard power
- Anime = soft power
- The Belt and Road Initiative = smart power
- Iran war = hard power
- Hollywood = soft power
- Academic exchange programs = soft power
- NATO = smart power
- Terrorist attack = hard power
References:
Kivak, R. (2025). Soft and Hard power | EBSCO. EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | Www.ebsco.com. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/soft-and-hard-power
Nye, J. (2019, April). Soft Power and the Public Diplomacy Revisited. Www.hks.harvard.edu. https://www.hks.harvard.edu/publications/soft-power-and-public-diplomacy-revisited
Nye, J. S. (1990). Soft Power. Foreign Policy, 80(80), 153–171. https://doi.org/10.2307/1148580
Nye, J. S. (2009). Get Smart: Combining Hard and Soft Power. Foreign Affairs, 88(4), 160. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20699631