"Soft Power" is defined as "the ability to get what your want through attraction rather than coercion and payments. It arises from the attractiveness of a country's culture, political ideals, and policies. When our policies are seen as legitimate in the eyes of others, our soft power is enhanced." [Soft Power, by Joseph S. Nye, Jr., p. X]
President Trump seems to only understand hard power: the demand for compliance with the threat of economic or military reprisal if compliance is not forthcoming. But soft power is at least equally as powerful as hard power, without any bad side effects like tariff wars or actual wars. Soft Power is cheaper, safer, and often more lasting. We should go back to it.
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