(12) Assess The Importance Of Hard Power In Maintaining The Status Of Superpowers Flashcards
What are hard powers.
Using military and economic influence (trade deals, sanctions) to force a country to act in a particular way.
What are soft powers?
The more subtle persuasion of countries to act in a particular way, on the basis that the persuader is respected and appealing. (Political persuasion and cultural influence)
Example of the use of a hard power.
- Russia invaded Ukraine (gain control over country and push back on NATOs growth)
Example of the use of soft power.
- BBC World Service - more neutral and reliable than many government broadcasters. Worldwide news and programmes.
Hard powers are more effective:
- Alleviate issues rapidly
- The threat of using them can prevent conflict (counties compete by number of nuclear weapons - country with most gets least political threats) (Russia has most, 5,977 in 2023)
Soft powers are more effective
- Lasting influence and effects
- Maintain status without tangibility so people feel better about country.
- So useful that Germany has surpassed the USA as worlds leading user of soft power with highest ranking of 62.2 out of 100 on global soft power index score (2020)
- Low cost
- Doesn’t require military action since it is more commonly seen as unnecessary today and may loose allies.
Why do we need both hard and soft powers
- Both exist along the same spectrum of competition and conflict as persuasion and attraction (the sliding scale of power)
- Without this balance the worlds hyperpower wouldn’t exist (USA)
Example of why we need both
The USA became a hyperpower after withdrawing from the Afghanistan war due to large economic and social losses - realised that hard power wasn’t enough
Conclusion
Soft powers more useful in modern world as we have many more ways of utilising this power (Through TNCs etc)
