Soft Power
The ability to influence other countries through attraction, culture, and persuasion rather than military or economic coercion.
Explanation
Soft power — a term coined by Harvard political scientist Joseph Nye — refers to a country's ability to shape the preferences of others through appeal rather than force. Sources of soft power include cultural influence (Hollywood, the BBC, K-pop), political values (democracy, human rights), and foreign policy legitimacy. The United States has historically wielded enormous soft power through its cultural exports and democratic example; China has invested heavily in soft power through the Belt and Road Initiative, Confucius Institutes, and media. Soft power is contrasted with hard power (military and economic coercion) and smart power is the combination of both. Soft power is inherently difficult to measure and quantify.
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