Dictionary

soft power en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Coined by American political scientist Joseph Nye in the late 1980s and popularized in the 1990 book “Bound to Lead: The Changing Nature of American Power”.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, media, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc., rather than by such "hard" means as military intervention or punitive economic measures.
   • Soft power is a country's cultural and ideological appeal. It is the ability to get desired outcomes through attraction instead of force. 1999 March 8, Joseph S. Nye Jr., “The Challenge of Soft Power”, in Time:
   • But for all its contemporary soft power — the “Emily in Paris” tie-in, the medals displayed in Louis Vuitton trunks — these Paris Olympics will also be a throwback. 2024 July 25, Jason Farago, “Why the Olympics’ Parade of Nations Is the World’s Costume Party”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 27 Jul 2024:
   • India will set up cultural centres in five more countries to showcase its soft power and acquire a global footprint for its rich diversity, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here Saturday. 2011 January 8, “More Indian cultural centres to showcase soft power: PM”, in Indiaweb123.com, archived from the original on 17 Aug 2018, retrieved 16 Jul 2011:
   • His bid to popularize Mr. Liu’s novels was a rare attempt to export Chinese popular culture — something that has eluded China as its government yearns to wield the same soft power the United States commands with its movies, music and sports stars. 2024 April 1, David Pierson, “The Bizarre Chinese Murder Plot Behind Netflix’s ‘3 Body Problem’”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 06 Apr 2024:
   • The bank often provides the hard currency for Chinese soft power aspirations: In Africa, China ExIm has handed out more than $7 billion in loans in recent years. 2007 May 23, Jim Yardley, “Blocked by U.S., China finds it own way to space”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2019, retrieved 16 Jul 2011:
2. (countable, uncountable) A state having this kind of power.

Forms

Relateds

cultural diplomacy · hard power · sharp power · smart power

Translations (24)

ja ソフト・パワー (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · vi quyền lực mềm (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · id kekuasaan lunak (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · ru мя́гкая власть (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · da blød magt (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · sv mjuk makt (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · cmn 軟實力 /软实力 (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · fr puissance douce (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · ka რბილი ძალა (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · pl but see siła (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · ms kuasa lunak (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · be мяккая сіла (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · fr soft power (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · fi pehmeä valta (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · es poderío blando (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · de weiche Macht (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · ms kuasa lembut (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · ro putere moale (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · ru мя́гкая си́ла (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · id kekuatan lunak (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · es poder blando (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · de Soft Power (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · ar القُوَّة النَّاعِمَة (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.) · az yumşaq güc (political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc.)