Every relationship is based on forms of power and takes power into account. When two people, groups or bodies come together, one will have more power than the other. Power also influences relationships between countries.
Relations between countries, studied as international relations, are based on these power dynamics. The most powerful countries will use their power to get other countries to accept their proposals, and increasingly states are investing in different ways to gain a greater share of power in order to either increase or maintain their power in the international sphere and achieve their interests. However, two questions that could be asked are: what types of power are there? how does a state achieve greater influence?
First of all, there are four types of power, but for ease of understanding, this post will focus on 2: hard power and soft power. These two concepts were published in the magazine "Foreign Affairs" by the American professor Joseph Nye in the 1990s.
Hard power consists of imposing one's will by coercive means, above all, using economic and military means. That is, to subdue another country using military or economic superiority with the aim of intimidating and constraining some state. An example is nuclear armament.
Another way of gaining international clout or influence that more and more states, both great powers and medium-sized states, are paying attention to is the so-called soft power. Soft power is the ability to influence the actions or interests of other states using cultural and ideological means. This power is crystallized in the image of a country and its culture, its diplomacy, its culture: cinema, gastronomy, sports, music, television series, among others. This power helps to modify the perception and interests of third states.
Measuring this power is a challenge, therefore, in 2019, the Nanyang Center for Emerging Markets (CEM) in Singapore presented a list in 2019 in this regard. This report is based on a framework that combines 21 variables to measure this power. Another way to measure and rank soft power is the annual Soft Power 30 report.
Medir este poder es un desafío, por ende, en 2019, el Centro Nanyang para Mercados Emergentes (CEM) en Singapur presentó una lista en 2019 al respecto. Este informe se basa en un marco que combina 21 variables que permiten medir este poder. Otra forma de medir y clasificar el poder blando es el informe anual Soft Power 30.
Among the major powers: USA, Japan and the European Union are the major powers with respect to the employment of this soft power. However, in recent years, new states have successfully used this soft power. It is important to highlight the cases of: South Korea, Israel, Qatar, Ireland, Turkey, among others.
In the following decades, we will see more actors on the international chessboard concentrating and investing in this power, and how the role of sports, gastronomy, among other aspects will play an increasingly prominent role.
Suggested readings:
1- PARDO, P.A.B.L.O. and MUIZ, M.A.N.U.E.L. (2016) Joseph Nye: "El poder es hacer que los demás hagan lo que tú quieras", ELMUNDO. Available at: https://www.elmundo.es/cronica/2016/05/17/57362209ca474111708b459b.html
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