Smart Power

Hard Power and Soft Power

Power

is nothing more than the ability to affect others to get what you want. This requires a set of tools.
Hard Power Use of coercion(force) or payment to achieve goals. Example: Terrorism, Bribing, Bombing Countries, etc. Soft Power Use of attraction to achieve goals Example: Culture, Values, Communication, Vision, etc.

Aspects of Soft Power

Features of soft power diplomacy, persuasion, empathy for cultural norms and religious sensitivities, understanding of history, personal bridges (personality analysis of leaders), supporting the cause/issue through scientific research/analytic arguments, Molding public opinion, pointing out human -right violations

Aspects of Hard Power

Features of hard power (indirect/limited) war-readiness demonstration through technological and operational superiority in military exercises/ war games published/presented work in science of weaponry, special taxes on imports from non cooperating countries, sanctions, embargos, suspension of privileges to use air space, airports and sea ports .

Complementary Powers

Both powers are complementary. Sometimes one power is needed and sometimes another. For example, the Arab spring could not be contained by using hard power like police. On the other hand, the USA and the allied forces won the second world war because of a solid hard power a nuclear bomb.

Smart Power
Term

coined by Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Professor at Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of Government Coined in his 1990 book Bound to Lead. The slides are adapted from his interview published in Harvard Business Review November 2008. So, what is Smart Power?

Smart Power

Great leaders fuse both powers into a winning strategy: Smart power. Smart power involves Use of diplomacy, persuasion, projection of power and influence Is cost effective Has social and political legitimacy Engages both military and diplomacy There are very few such leaders, eg. Theodore Roosevelt

Women and Smart Power

Because

of stereotypes, it is more difficult for women to exert smart power. A woman seeking public office has to play against the gender stereotype that women are soft. Ex, Hillary Clinton had to prove that she was tough and experienced when she ran for American presidency in 2008.

Business and Soft Power

Motivating and persuading employees is more important than resorting to carrot and sticks. Hence, business leaders use soft power, while politicians favor hard power.

Because of the use of soft power, women are more successful in business than in politics.