Soft Power Instruments Research Articles

Soft power and translation in Spanish-speaking Latin America: comparative analysis of Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Uruguay’s translation support programs*

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the function of translation support policies as instruments of soft power for Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, focusing on the translation programs of Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Uruguay. It addresses the challenges these countries face within the global translation system, characterized by linguistic hierarchies and geopolitical constraints. Through a sociological lens, the study provides a comparative analysis of the institutional structures, objectives, operational dynamics, and the volumes and destinations of the subsidies distributed by these programs, highlighting their impact on the international visibility of national literature. Additionally, by examining the editorial profiles and translation subsidies awarded to three independent publishers, this research posits a number of hypotheses regarding the relationship between translation programs and the modalities of circulation for non-central languages and countries within various linguistic markets. Consequently, this study lays a foundation for further comparative research on the translation policies of peripheral countries and their role in enhancing cultural diplomacy across different languages and regions.

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE AS BENELUX COUNTRIES’ FOREIGN POLICY TOOL: STRUCTURAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL ASPECTS

The article discusses the use of development assistance as a foreign policy tool by the Benelux countries, namely Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The paper aims to answer the question whether the development assistance provided by the Benelux states corresponds to their political statements which cite this policy area as a soft power instrument, or the three approaches to development assistance rather reflect other goals, e.g. beneficial economic cooperation with developing countries. The article analyzes international statistical data, sociological surveys and official development assistance-related documents, using qualitative historical and descriptive as well as genealogical and historical methods to trace the evolution of the three countries’ approaches. The concepts of small and middle powers, to which the Benelux countries belong, and the concept of soft power constitute the theoretical and methodological framework of the research. The article concludes that the Benelux countries’ approaches to development assistance are different, complex and changeable. The pursuit of economic goals helps explain at least some of the three states’ geographic and functional priorities, which translate into defining countries where Benelux’ companies are situated as key partners or specializing in the development assistance areas where these companies can be involved. This pursuit is most clearly evident in the Dutch approach, while Luxembourg seems to value soft power function more as it enhances the country’s image as one of the most generous donors and a responsible member of the international community. Unlike Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium show a downward trend in the amount of assistance allocated (with the exception of 2015 and 2022), amid doubts about the effectiveness of development assistance and securitization of this area; however, the ongoing public debates keep relevant the use of development assistance as soft power vis-à-vis the countries of the Global South.

The Role of Television Series as a Soft Power Instrument in Turkey’s Policy towards the Western Balkans from 2002 to 2020

The Role of Television Series as a Soft Power Instrument in Turkey’s Policy towards the Western Balkans from 2002 to 2020

Salience of Buddhism as an Instrument of Soft Power in India’s Neighborhood

This research paper explores the salience of Buddhism as a potent instrument of soft power within India's neighborhood. Buddhism, with its profound historical and cultural roots in India, has transcended geographical boundaries to become an influential force that shapes diplomatic relationships and socio-cultural ties in the region. This study delves into the multifaceted dimensions of Buddhism's role in India's foreign policy and its impact on fostering closer relationships with neighboring countries. The paper begins by tracing the historical trajectory of Buddhism in India and its subsequent diffusion to neighboring nations. It examines how Buddhism has not only endured as a spiritual and philosophical tradition but has also evolved into a dynamic tool for international engagement. In this context, it delves into the significance of Buddhism as a cultural bridge that connects India with its neighboring countries, transcending linguistic and religious differences. The study also evaluates the geopolitical implications of Buddhism's resurgence in India's neighborhood. It assesses the impact of India's Buddhist diplomacy on regional stability, security, and economic cooperation. Special attention is given to India's relations with countries like China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Myanmar, where Buddhism holds particular significance. In conclusion, this research underscores the enduring relevance of Buddhism as an instrument of soft power in India's neighborhood. It emphasizes the need for India to harness its rich Buddhist heritage and promote intercultural dialogues as essential components of its foreign policy toolkit, furthering its diplomatic objectives and fostering enduring bonds with its neighbors.

Cultivating Influence: Analysing Australia's Government Research Training Program as a Strategic Instrument of Soft Power for National Advancement

Cultivating Influence: Analysing Australia's Government Research Training Program as a Strategic Instrument of Soft Power for National Advancement

Turkish Airlines: facilitating Türkiye's soft power in Africa

ABSTRACT Türkiye, a re-emerging non-Western power, has intensified its relationship with Africa by strategically integrating soft power elements into its foreign policy. Unlike other actors, Türkiye assigned a special role to its national carrier, Turkish Airlines, in this endeavour. This article assesses Turkish Airlines’ role as Türkiye’s soft power actor in Africa, primarily as a facilitator and connectivity agent. It explores Türkiye’s deployment of soft power tools and instruments to expand relations with Benin, Mauritania and Somalia, countries with recent significant increases in trade with Türkiye. We argue that Turkish Airlines’ involvement as a soft power actor and facilitator of connectivity in these countries has significantly enhanced the effectiveness of various actors, contributing to achieving Türkiye's regional goals. As such, it serves to confirm and enrich soft power theory.

The Endeavour scholarships program in the era of the Asian century: promise unfulfilled

PurposeThe Australian Government has long used its international scholarship programs as an instrument of soft power in international diplomacy. The paper examines an international scholarship program and its role in Australia’s soft power efforts during a period in recent history.Design/methodology/approachThe Australia in the Asian Century White Paper of 2012 is used as a lens to reveal how the Australian Government viewed the role of international scholarship programs in international diplomacy at a specific point in the recent past, and compares it with research revealing what was contemporaneously happening with one key government-funded scholarship program.FindingsThis paper is based on a comprehensive case study of the Australian Government’s Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships program (2004–2019). Endeavour was an ambitious and expensive merit-based program with 6,600 recipients in numerous and diffuse sub-categories. The program was complex and cumbersome and lacked clear priorities, particularly in its lack of geographic focus. It missed opportunities to connect with the political zeitgeist, largely due to opaque priorities and inadequate evaluation regimes which focused entirely on outcomes for individual recipients rather than on relationships for Australia.Originality/valueThis research draws on the first academic study of the Endeavour program. Other scholarship programs (for example Australia Awards and the New Colombo Plan) have attracted considerable scholarly interest. The Endeavour research provides an additional counterpoint for studies of Australian scholarship programs and their contribution to international diplomacy. It is timely to consider this in 2024 when Australia is putting a new focus on its investment in international scholarships.

Soft Power and Small States: A Theoretical Discussion

This paper analyses global debates on soft power and its implications for small states in international relations. It primarily focuses on theoretical debates about the soft power of small states. It examines the conceptual development of soft power and how it relates to small states using a qualitative approach. It has observed small states from quantitative and qualitative definitions and found them to have divergent priorities with distinct characteristics. Furthermore, a soft power taxonomy was used to observe soft power resources, instruments, receptions, and outcomes. Methodologically, this paper follows the qualitative literature review approach, using a systematic framework. Finally, the paper examines the ontological position of soft power in international relations theory, providing a unique proposition that stands out from realism, liberalism, and constructivism. In conclusion, the paper reviews the opportunities, challenges, and practices of soft power in the foreign affairs of small states, drawing on theoretical and philosophical lenses to develop persuasive arguments.

Saudi Arabia’s soft power in Pakistan

ABSTRACT Saudi Arabia’s soft power is visible in Pakistan because of the historic relations between Riyadh and Islamabad but the erstwhile scholarship mainly focuses on its hard power and the strategic dynamics of its relationship with Pakistan. This paper aims to bridge the gap by investigating how Riyadh uses various soft power instruments and how they are received in Pakistan. Understanding its centrality in the Muslim world, Saudi Arabia has been investing in the following inter-connected soft power instruments: religion, culture, history, Islamic education, and diplomacy by dominating the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Экономическая стратегия ЕС в Центральной Азии: роль Франции

The article examines the strategy of France and the EU in Central Asia (CA) aimed at strengthening economic (including trade and investment) positions, primarily in the key countries of the region (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) against the background of geopolitical turbulence. Based on strategic documents of the European Union, conclusions are drawn about the increasing importance of the Central Asian region for the EU, as well as about the evolution of EU-Central Asia relations towards a more institutionalised dialogue, which, in particular, is demonstrated by the adoption of the ‘Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia’ in 2023. Special attention is paid to the structure of trade and investment relations between the Central Asian states and the EU and France, the analysis of which also demonstrates an increasing mutual interest in cooperation. The article emphasizes the use of trade with Central Asia by the EU and France as a tool for diversifying imports of critical raw materials. The article also considers the directions of the investment strategy of European countries, mainly aimed at the development of transport corridors through the territory of Central Asian countries in the region as a whole and the strategy of French companies in Central Asia, especially in the energy sector. A growing interest in investing in the nuclear industry of Kazakhstan, the largest uranium producer in the world, against the backdrop of France’s declining influence in Africa, is highlighted. The authors explain Kazakhstan’s motivation in expanding cooperation in this area, which consists in the interest in obtaining French technologies for nuclear power plants. The activities of companies such as EDF and Orano, as well as TotalEnergies, which is developing renewable energy sources in the country, are cited as examples. France and the EU, by soft power and economic instruments strive to become a counterweight to the influence of Russia and China in the Region.

The Sources of Russia’s Soft Power in Relation to Belarus

This paper aims to evaluate the sources of Russia’s soft power as a tool which should enable it to integrate Belarus more closely with Russia. The research question is as follows: what are Russia’s main sources of attractiveness, and what kind of instruments of soft power is the Russian government applying to achieve that aim? To what extent was this soft policy successful? The author applied a qualitative research method. It is inductive and allows the researcher to explore meanings and insights into Russia’s notion of “soft power” in its foreign policy toward Belarus. The basis of it lies in the interpretive approach to the present reality of Russia – Belarus political and economic relations and in the evaluation of Russian efforts to integrate its closest neighbour by using only non-military means.

THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS AS INSTRUMENTS OF INDIA’S SOFT POWER IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

The idea of soft power has become increasingly popular in the field of international relations, where cultural diplomacy is essential to influencing how the global community looks a country. India, with its vast and diverse cultural heritage, has strategically employed its visual and performing arts as critical instruments of soft power. From Bollywood films and classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Kathak to its traditional music and fine arts, India has utilized these art forms to project influence on the global stage. This research paper explores how these various artistic expressions not only serve as tools of India’s soft power but also foster diplomatic relationships, enhance bilateral ties, and build a positive international image. Additionally, the paper analyzes the historical roots of these cultural forms, their evolution over time, and their continued relevance in contemporary global diplomacy. By assessing case studies of India’s use of art and culture in fostering international partnerships and elevating its status in global governance, the study sheds light on how the arts contribute to India's foreign policy goals and solidify its presence in the complex realm of international politics.

Reviving Social Europe: a critical assessment of EU social policy in the wake of multiple crises

The concept of "Social Europe" encompasses the European Union's social policy framework. This paper argues that the financial crisis of 2007-2009, the subsequent Euro crisis, and the ensuing austerity measures diverted significant attention away from Social Europe. This neglect led to declining living standards, reductions in public services, and the emergence of critical challenges such as the gig economy. In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these issues, prompting a renewed focus on Social Europe by EU institutions. This paper conducts a chronological analysis of recent legislative (acquis) and non-legislative (soft power) instruments implemented to address these challenges and assesses the prospects of Social Europe in the near term.

Middle Power Foreign Policy Behavior in Peripheral Regions: The Cases of Türkiye and South Korea in Central Asia

This study examines the foreign policy behavior of Türkiye and South Korea in Central Asia comparatively in the post-Cold War era. The article argues that both Ankara and Seoul accomplished to expand and institutionalize their interaction with the Central Asian states through the establishment of multilateral diplomatic platforms, allocation of development assistance and utilization of soft power instruments. While Türkiye’s political bonds with the Central Asian states are more entrenched and institutionalized compared to the South Korea’s political association with Central Asia, South Korea surpasses Türkiye in terms of economic performance in the region. The socio-cultural sphere is a domain in which Russia still prevails despite the increasing Turkish and South Korean efforts in education and entertainment realms. Furthermore, while both Türkiye and South Korea resorted to middle power means of convening international meetings and extending aid in Central Asia, they were unable to assume conciliator/mediator roles in regional conflicts.

Neo-Ottoman Turk-Scape: Analyzing the Role of Dizis as Türkiye’s Soft Power

Türkiye has grabbed the world’s attention in the last three decades for its strategic use of soft power as an instrument of cultural diplomacy. Buoyed by relative economic success in the post-Cold War period, the new ruling elites of Türkiye used Islamic practices and value-system, particularly its Ottoman past, as tools of the soft power in cultural diplomacy. Turkish dizis (television series), particularly those based on historical figures, have played a critical role in the nation branding exercise of Türkiye. These dizis have not only created a soft spot for the country, and boosted its tourism, but it also helped the government, particularly President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan project himself as a leader with potentials to lead the Muslim world or Ummah. This article assesses the role of Turkish dizis as a soft power instrument in cultural diplomacy and the nation branding of Türkiye. Interestingly, Turkish dizis were primarily produced for domestic consumption, and were not necessarily targeting foreign audience, at least in the beginning. Thus, they perform the dual function of molding public opinion within the country, while also helping create a positive image about Türkiye and its past among the foreign audience. But nostalgia of the past alone is not sufficient, if not complemented by reciprocal actions on the ground.

Çin’in Yumuşak Güç Araçlarının İncelenmesi

The concept of power has dramatically been important for people and communities in the historical scene. After the world wars and the cold war in the past, a different balance of power has emerged in the international arena. With the advancement of technology and the emergence of nuclear weapons, heavy losses have been given in wars. Countries tried to recover themselves and erase the traces of wars due to the heavy losses they inflicted. In this recovery process, we encounter soft power, which has become necessary as an alternative to military power. Today, actors have begun to regulate their policies following the concept of soft power and have framed what they want to achieve using this concept. The People's Republic of China, one of the major powers of the 21st century, has attached importance to the concept of soft power like other actors and has begun to include the instruments of soft power in its policies. China aims to maintain its global position and to continue its peaceful rise, which it expresses at every opportunity. Undoubtedly the essential element for these purposes is considered soft power. Looking at the history of China, the concept of soft power is not a new phenomenon; it is a concept that China has used frequently in the past. This research aims to examine how the People's Republic of China perceives Joseph Nye's concept of soft power and to examine China's soft power elements in the context of culture, foreign policy, and political values.

Кино как инструмент «мягкой силы» государства на примере кинематографа Испании и США

The article considers cinema as an instrument of soft power of states, using the example of cinema in Spain and the USA. Different approaches are shown. On the one hand, the United States, which uses universal concepts, on the other hand, Spain, which uses stereotypical ideas and recognizable images about its country. In American films, most often, universal topics are used that are understandable to all people: the struggle between good and evil (moreover, evil is universal, threatening the whole world, and good is the United States), love, happiness, compassion. Even if purely national issues are raised in American films (for example, African-American racism), these problems are presented as universal, as a problem of human dignity, honor, etc. In Spanish cinema, well-established stereotypes about Spain and its culture are actively used: bullfighting, flamenco, Andalusian folklore, traditional cuisine and clothing (for example, the matador costume), as well as typical, recognizable images of the Spanish man and woman (Spanish macho - Antonio Banderas and swarthy, passionate, beautiful Carmen - Penelope Cruz). All this forms the concept of ‘españolada’. The United States does not officially support its film production, but coordinates and consults with the film productions and directors through unofficial resources, primarily the Motion Picture Association of America, whose leadership includes many former White House officials. Spain, on the contrary, actively supports its filmmakers, helps to promote Spanish films in the international arena, develops joint film production, stimulates the shooting of films at the state level, including foreign ones, using Spanish locations, etc. Thus, one can see two different approaches to cinema as an instrument of soft power, and although American cinema certainly dominates the world market, the obvious success of Spanish cinema, which is becoming increasingly popular, should be noted.

Redefining Nepal’s Foreign Policy on the Basis of Its Soft-Power Assets

This paper examines the bilateral and multilateral relations of Nepal with soft power superpowers. It discusses the proper identification of soft power resources and instruments on their ground and mobilization of those to the targeted country using formal, public, and economic diplomacy with an aim of uplifting soft power ranks and indices. The homilies and diplomatic activities of Nepal have been examined using the soft power theory and the small state lens. In addition, it also aims to analyze Nepal's complex involvement in international affairs at the levels of governments, think tanks, research institutions, and academia. This paper has been prepared primarily based on desk research, mainly utilizing secondary data sources.

Turkiye’s Africa-Sub-Saharan Policies and Its Competition with France

Turkiye increased its presence in Central Asia, Caucasus, Balkans, and especially Africa by transforming its foreign policy. Undoubtedly, this situation requires a new perception in foreign policy. Therefore, it required the causes of the policy of disinterestedness to these regions in the 20th century.
 Turkiye, endeavored to structure its African policy with the soft power instruments emanated from its historical background by stressing cultural and religious values. Being aware of the fact that soft power is not sufficient enough, hard power instruments have also been implemented after Arab Spring in 2011. Certainly, Türkiye’s foreign policy in Africa disturbs imperialist powers especially France which wants to maintain its influence.
 This study deals with Türkiye’s historical presence in Africa, its soft and hard power instruments and its relations with France which has interests in the region.

The geo-economic approach to the European Union’s strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region

The purpose of this study is to discuss the European Union’s (EU) cooperation and geo-economic approach towards the Indo-Pacific Region (IPR). This study examines the EU’s comprehensive strategy for the expansion of its presence in the Indian and the Pacific Oceans. The EU wants economic and political partnerships between the Indo-Pacific countries so as to strengthen its position in the region. The European Union’s policy has been operating in the regions as an instrument of soft power to cooperate with countries of this region. The research highlights that the EU implies the construction of structural strategic networks to intensify the high capacities in the projection of economic cooperation. As a result, the EU somehow makes a rational connection to expedite economic activities while, on the other hand, the EU needs to establish a strong mechanism to achieve ultimate geopolitical and geo-economic interest in the region.