Essay Example on Power as a Tool to Influence: Coercion, Rewards, and Attraction

Introduction

According to Joseph S Nye Jr., power is defined as the ability to alter or influence the behaviors, beliefs, norms, and practices of others and get them to follow the path or do what one wants (Nye Jr, 2006). He further adds that there are three basic approaches that power is used to influence behavior: coercion or punishment (the stick), payment and rewards (carrot), and lastly attraction or impression (soft power). Such nations as the United States and a majority of the European countries and Asia are considered powerful countries because of different aspects that make them influential on a global scale. For instance, the United States is regarded as a superpower because of its military and political strength globally. China, on the other hand, is considered an economic superpower because of its substantial economic influence in the international market. European countries, on the other hand, are considered culturally authoritative because of the cultural significance and especially the English language whose origin is in Europe.

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Therefore, soft power according to Nye Jr. is a non-traditional force such as economic strength or culture that influences or alters the beliefs and practices of another culture by attracting and appealing to them. There three primary sources of a nation's soft power: the country's political values, its culture, and the country's foreign policies (Nye Jr, 2006). These three sources form the three major elements of soft power as discussed by Nye Jr.

Culture as a Soft Power

Also referred to as cultural diplomacy, culture is a form of power that strives to promote the exchange of knowledge, ideas as well as promote cultural to be acceptance and eventually adoption by other cultures. Culture also acts as a bridge between communities by bringing different cultures together and establishing one culture that dominates the others and can be used as a reference to other cultures. Cultural diplomacy aims to promote a positive and acceptable vision that highlights cultural diversity (Nye Jr, 2006).

Culture form an essential part of a country's ability to counter any systematic destructions by the cultural extremist. In the contemporary world today, culture has formed the backbone or urbanization and globalization. Close to 50% of the world's population speaks English, which is a western language and carries with it a western culture. Most of the international activities including trades, global communications, peace agreements, and foreign policies involving multiple countries are all conducted in popular cultural languages such as English, French, and Mandarin (China) (Yavuzaslan & Cetin, 2016).

Today, American culture, especially in the entertainment industry, produces the 'strongest' soft power compared to any other culture at a global scale. For instance, the hip-hop, rap, and pop culture's dominate music industry worldwide. Similarly, comparing the same instance a few decades back, the Jazz culture in the 60s also experienced the same, spreading its popularity to most of the European cultures.

Western dressing beliefs, and practices, as well as their language, has displayed a great of an influence on most native cultures and especially Africa. Most African academic institutions teach in English. African culture is slowly being absorbed into the western culture, giving the Western countries a dominating power of Africans.

In the United States, the most spoken language in English. As a result, native cultures such as Aboriginals, Spanish, Mexicans, native Indians among others, have been forced to adapt to the English literature, which is a form of soft power. Not only has it bridged the language barrier, but it has also formed a common ground through which the federal government can exercise its control over these cultures.

Economic Strength

Financial strength can be either soft or hard depending on how it is practiced. If coercion is involved, then economic power becomes a hard power (Nye Jr, 2006). A good instance is how the German, Americans, and Britain forced young men to join the army during the various wars with these practices escalating during the first and Second world wars. Although being in the military is employment and an aspect that influence a country's economic development, 'victims' of this form of power are usually forced and have little to no autonomy of decisions made.

On the other hand, if the receivers are wowed with wealth and the wealth attracts them, then it becomes a soft power. A good example is how a majority of the African countries view the western states. Today, a significant number of African countries are trading with western countries because they believe the western countries are wealthy and economically stable which has placed them as economic role models. As Russell argues, economic power is purely a form of power, and it can compel as much as it seduces. Economic power is a nation's ability to improve the living standards of its citizens through enhanced production, infrastructure, health services, and food security. It is also the ability to be economically stable and be resourceful in terms of raw materials and manufactured goods (Nye Jr, 2006).

Economic power is often linked to the soft power of a nation's industrial strength influences another country's economy. This notion is usually achieved through trade and foreign aid.

Foreign Policies

Morgen Thau sees international relations as a process of nations pursuing their interests as a form of power. The country is the major participant in international relations while the international organizations form the 'subordinates'. All other international bodies operate through the institution. Foreign policies regulate these different bodies and also decide the terms of action. Interests convey two notions:

• States have interests
• States interests dominate states behavior (Lin & Hongtao, 2017).

State, in reality, can be compared to persons capable of possessing interests. Nation foreign policies have a strong influence on the impact the country makes to the countries it interacts with. Favoring policies are more likely to attract other nations while harsh foreign policies are likely to push away other nations. For instance, Most of the African countries have borrowed numerous strategies from the European countries as compared to Western countries such as the United States. The fact that the Chinese government has loosened its trade policies to the rest of the world has seen China become an economic superpower surpassing such countries as Great Britain and the United States (Lin & Hongtao, 2017).

Why is the concept relevant to the conduct of foreign affairs?

For a long time, hard power has remained to be the traditional form of foreign affairs tool. It is through the argue for power "hard power" that such devastating consequences such as the world wars and tension between states escalated from the fifteenth century through to the 20th century that saw its prime in World War II. During the period, such countries like Japan and Germany and France did not have enough military power to influence other countries as compared to Great Britain and America. As a result, they suffered huge losses both economically and population wise.

Different state has diverse ways through which they use soft power in their international relations diplomacy and public affairs activities. Much of these exercises revolve around public affairs and international businesses that promote the countries, heritage, and traditional practices. Successful establishment of soft power and effective diplomacy "involves building long-term relationships that create an enabling environment for government policies" (Nye, 2004: 8).

Soft power has been described as a critical element in that contribute to the growing international information flow in a more friendly way. For instance, during the cold war period, the United States emerged as the super power and continued to employ ICTs and the media for cultural domination, economic, and military power. The Cold War period was also characterized by an emphasis on the importance of international communication like propaganda as a global activity. During the War, Germans, for instance, saw the height of propaganda in the media industry and especially the film industry escalate to its optimum. Also, the main aim of the idea was to make German citizens that they were doing well in the war, small countries such asPoland were also influenced which led to the defeat by the Germans.

On the other hand, an international organization such as the UN and other cultural organizations further contributed to the international debate on communication issues as a form of soft power that is meant to influence as well as attract other states in to like and possibly adopting a state policy through the media. Soft power through communication is viewed as a vehicle through which economic growth and Social change are developed and modernized in the so-called less industrialized and under developed and developing countries.

Foreign policies as a form of soft power are perceived as a constant state of amending and evolution, and it takes a prominent place in virtually all aspects of contemporary global, local and national system. As a result, because soft power has been viewed as an alternative to the raw political power, the concept is continually being embraced by policymakers and ethically minded scholar. Thus, soft power is considered as a more humane form of control especially in states suffering from political instabilities. Soft power forms the bases for a majority of trade activities and agreement among nations. Soft power provides appropriate principles that form the basis of international negotiations, peace treaties and international communication activities.

Foreign policies advocate for global ideals and specific strategies as of the state. As Joseph Nye points out, the majority of the middle Eastern Europe wars do not experience America's Soft Power (Nye, 2008). After World War II, the United State has experienced drastic changes in the state's foreign policies. Nye further adds that "a country is more likely to appeal to other countries and possible 'control' them the nation's foreign policy is based on the long term and broad interests of a country compared to its short-sighted policy. Likewise, if the policy conveys important values that are being shared by all countries, then the policy becomes more appealing." (Nye, 2008)..

A policy can be either long-term or short-term effect based on the policy's background variation, identification, and realization of the nation's political values (Joseph S. Nye, 1991). Nations use diplomacy policy as a way of promoting the identification and realization of the state's political, cultural, and economical values international through status and international recognition. Joseph Nye highlights that the attractiveness of America, for example, largely relies on the expressed values through the style and content of its diplomatic policy (Nye Jr, 2006). A significant number of global nations pursue their interests in their foreign policies. However, a country's soft power strongly depends on the mode of attraction in mobilizing cooperation instead of using force or payoffs. Soft power to some extent is influenced by the country policies and their strategic objectives. . Therefore, reasonable foreign policy can bring about reputation and credibility, and pro...