Reflection Post: Hard and Soft Power

Though are discussion digressed into an IR discussion at points, today’s class provided fruitful ideas. I was already fairly familiar with hard power; less so with soft power. Soft power is an interesting concept and requires a higher level of thought than hard power in that hard power is tangible. Additionally, it is applicable in many more situations than hard power.  On the international level, as the accessibility of technology continues to increase, hard is relegated to a tool used to heighten soft power capabilities resulting in what Nye calls “smart power.” The readings support my stance by noting the change in “operating systems” where people are motivated by a sense a purpose, intrinsic motivators, as opposed to self-interest, extrinsic motivators (Pink). People care less about ‘carrots’ and fear ‘sticks’ less. This is when high levels of soft power are essential to the success of leaders everywhere. Among the methods of exercising soft power, a combination of framing, moral authority, and agenda setting is most desirable but is not always achievable. Of the three agenda setting is the most aggressive and arguably the most effective. It most easily accomplished if one has moral authority which garners respect. A real world example of the use of soft power might present itself as follows: a lobbyist may use framing to influence a congressman to set the agenda in favor of the lobbyist’s proposal. The likelihood of success is improved if the proposal is backed by an individual with moral authority which attracts more followers.