SOFT POWER IN THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST BY MOHSIN HAMID

Abstract

This research paper aims at soft power in the novel “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” by Mohsin Hamid. It throws light on the character of Changez, who becomes a victim of soft power of American culture and its policies. Changez is a brilliant student but he strongly supports American culture and tries to become part of it. This research qualitatively analyzes the text of “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” and highlights those events which reveal that America tries to influence Changez. This research follows close reading of the novel. America has strong influence on his mind but it will never accept him as a citizen and a true American. This paper also throws light on the effects of soft power on the personality of Changez and the factors which compelled Changez to realize the soft power of America because of the bias of America against Muslims. The theoretical framework for this research is the soft power theory of Joseph Nye. It concludes that Mohsin Hamid has successfully depicted American soft power.