Soft Power Approach Research Articles

India’s Vaccine Diplomacy and Global Health Governance: A Soft Power Approach in the Context of Public Policy and Religious Values

Research Problem: India's vaccine diplomacy during the Covid-19 pandemic has not only emerged as a significant tool of soft power but also involves moral and ethical dimensions closely tied to religious values and public policy. In the midst of a global crisis, the interaction between India’s vaccine diplomacy and the religious and public policy frameworks of recipient nations requires deeper exploration. Research purposes: This article aims to analyze the role of India’s vaccine diplomacy in relation to public policy and religious values in recipient countries, examining how India’s global health initiatives influence moral and ethical perceptions of vaccine distribution, fairness, and international solidarity. Research methods: The study employs policy analysis through a comprehensive literature review, focusing on the relationship between vaccine diplomacy, public policy, and responses from religious communities in the recipient countries. It also explores the ethical and spiritual dimensions of India’s health diplomacy approach and its impact on public health policies. Results and Discussion: The findings reveal that India’s vaccine diplomacy, through initiatives like "Vaccine Maitri," not only strengthens political ties with neighboring and global countries but also interacts with religious value systems, influencing public acceptance of vaccines. Moral values such as solidarity and justice, integral to many religious traditions, reinforce positive responses to the vaccine initiatives. Additionally, in some nations, religious communities have played a significant role in promoting vaccine acceptance by framing the health response in moral terms. Research Implications and Contributions: This research highlights the importance of integrating religious values into public health policy, particularly in global health contexts. Vaccine diplomacy rooted in moral solidarity and universal ethical principles, aligned with religious values, has the potential to enhance international cooperation and reduce vaccine hesitancy. Thus, this study contributes to understanding how religion and public policy can collaborate effectively in addressing global health challenges.

Harmonizing Political and Marketing Aesthetics: Insights from The Chess Olympiad 2022

This article explores how the Government of Tamil Nadu, India, utilised strategic mass communication methods that emerged from a fusion of political and marketing strategies to create an aesthetic approach that elevated Chess Olympiad 2022, an event typically less in the public eye, into a spectacle that captured widespread attention by focusing on the event’s impact on their cultural identity and the subsequent construction of a narrative of global cultural leadership. The marketing strategy of the Government of Tamil Nadu, India may be considered an aesthetic application of the theory of symbolic interactionism, as it employed literary, musical arts and visual arts across Chennai, that ensured active engagement of individuals in the city with the government's aesthetic representations. These visual representations acted as symbolic cues, inviting interaction and sparking the curiosity of the the whole host city, the Government of Tamil Nadu, India succeeded in turning Chess into a spectator sport, and by doing so, forged a key place in the national identity for Chess by building a narrative of collective linguistic and cultural identity. Since all citizens do not have an expert level knowledge on government policies, the media narrative that is built around any government policy determines its perceived success. The media narrative of Chess Olympiad 2022 was the narrative of India emerging as a global leader in cultural diplomacy - a soft power approach that is shaped by aesthetics. In dissecting the intricate interplay between mass communication, aesthetics, and societal identity formation, this study elucidates the transformative role of these strategies during the Chess Olympiad 2022, highlighting their profound implications within the socio-cultural landscape.

Peran Badan Narkotika Nasional Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur dalam Penegakan Hukum terhadap Tindak Pidana Nartkotika

The circulation of narcotics in Indonesia shows a trend that continues to increase and is very worrying. Currently, narcotics are not only distributed in big cities but have also reached East Nusa Tenggara. This is a dangerous threat to the lives of the community, nation and state, specifically to the survival and future of the perpetrators. The East Nusa Tenggara government has shown its seriousness in eradicating and preventing narcotics abuse by establishing the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial National Narcotics Agency (BNNP). The research method used is qualitative descriptive research, namely to provide a complete picture of the role of the NTT BNNP in carrying out its duties and functions in law enforcement against narcotics crimes and then describe the obstacles faced in eradicating narcotics crimes, both juridically and empirically. This research was carried out at the East Nusa Tenggara Province Narcotics Agency Office. The results of the research conducted show: (1) The role that must be carried out by the NTT Province BNN is a hard power approach through eradication, a soft power approach through prevention, community empowerment and rehabilitation, then a smart power approach using sophisticated information technology as ordered by the president for digitalization. (2) Obstacles encountered by the NTT Province BNN in preventing narcotics abuse include: Human resources are one of the obstacles for the NTT Province BNN in carrying out its role in eradicating narcotics cases in society. Budget is the thing that is most needed in executing an activity and other things. Budget limitations are one of the obstacles for the NTT Province BNN in carrying out its role in eradicating narcotics cases in society. The existing facilities and infrastructure apparently have an impact in hampering the role of the NTT BNNP. Based on this, it can be concluded that in eradicating and preventing narcotics abuse, the NTT BNNP has a role and faces obstacles in doing so.

De-Islamophobia di Inggris melalui Sepak Bola: Kajian terhadap Mohamed Salah dan Liverpool

This article aims to explain the role of Muslim professional sports actors in the activity of reducing prejudice against Islam in the UK, where in the last 10 years the trend of Islamophobia has increased sharply. This idea is important to see how the da'wah of Islam by using a soft power approach turns out to make a meaningful contribution to the development of Islamic da'wah today. This study uses a qualitative approach to understand the role of Muhammad Salah who is able to change the image of Islam in the UK, from a frightening image to a pleasant and entertaining image. Data was obtained from a number of secondary sources from social media metrics that developed in the UK. This article finds that the appearance of a professional Muslim sportsman who focuses on his field of expertise, is productive in the sense of being the best, and remains consistently a Muslim with good attitudes and behavior, is able to change the views of people outside Islam to find out more about Islam, and behave towards it in a professional and friendly manner.

Hubungan Australia-Indonesia dan Tinjauan Persepsi dari Kedua Negara

There are no two neighboring countries that are like Australia and Indonesia. The relationship between the two countries is known as “strange neighbors”, because of the many differences the Australian-Indonesian has. The closeness of the two countires is motivated by geographical and historical factors. Relations between Australia and Indonesia have also experienced ups and downs. However, despite the various challenges, the government continues to show a strong commitment to strengthening relations in various ways, such as the soft power approach. The soft power strategy in this context is public diplomacy through people-to-people relations. Change in relationship orientation is based on gaps of understanding that are present amid the two countries closeness. The research methods of this article use descriptive qualitatively with data collecions based on literature studies. Polls or surveys are a reference in reviewing the perceptions of Australians and Indonesians. Research shows that it is still necessary for the seriousness of both countries to enhance better and more diverse forms of relations.

Process of Confiscation of Assets Proceeding from Crime of Selling Narcotics Carried Out by the National Narcotics Agency of Aceh Province

The background of this research is that disclosing the source of funds from the sale of narcotics is very important because wealth is the weakest point of crime with the principle of criminology which states that money is the blood of crime or what is more often known as Money is the blood of the crime. Funds from crime, in this case narcotics, are often reused to grow and finance the crime itself so that the crime becomes bigger and better organized, which results in this case being the case that narcotics crime itself becomes an organized crime. The result of this research is the process of confiscation of assets resulting from sales crimes. Narcotics carried out by the Aceh BNNP is carried out through a mapping stage process. The next stage is the confiscation stage after receiving a decision that has permanent legal requirements, where the assets are in the form of cash, which is immediately deposited into the state treasury by the Prosecutor's Office as non-tax state revenue (PNBP). Meanwhile, assets in the form of securities, movable or not, tangible or not, are managed by the Ministry of Finance. Constraints faced by the Aceh BNNP in the process of returning assets from the sale of narcotics are the limited capacity of human resources investigating money laundering at the Aceh BNNP and the limited research and inquiry budget. The crime of money laundering, the implementation of MLA, takes a long time and is not optimal due to clashes between legal systems. Prevention efforts carried out by the Aceh BNNP in dealing with Narcotics Crime are through the Hard Power Approach, Soft Power Approach, Smart Power Approach and Co-Operation.

Tourism for Peace and Community Engagement: A Soft Power Approach to Conflict Resolution

The study analyses the soft power approach to conflict resolution using tourism and community involvement initiatives. This study investigates the impact of Peace through Tourism (PTT) and Community participation (CP) on Conflict resolution (CR) in Border destinations of Jammu and Kashmir (UT) in order to explore the possibilities of promoting just, peaceful, and inclusive societies, as articulated by Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16). Using community involvement and tourism as a means to greatly minimise conflict of all kinds as the main objective, about 340 residents of border towns were polled with questionnaires. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modelling (SEM) were employed to test and validate the study's assumptions about the relationships between variables. Current research findings suggest that peace through tourism plays a key role in resolving conflict at destinations and may play a supportive role in building peace on a global and local scale. The results also showed that community participation in tourism development has a big effect on resolving conflicts and that community participation lets locals enjoy the benefits of tourism activities and gives them the power to improve their skills through small business ventures. The paper gives suggestions for how different groups can help build peace through cooperative tourism projects and community interaction based on tourism.

The effect of Chinese vaccine diplomacy during COVID-19 in the Philippines and Vietnam: a multiple case study from a soft power perspective

Vaccine diplomacy is a subset of global health diplomacy and refers to the use and delivery of vaccines to achieve a country’s global health goals and foreign policy objectives. Countries have used vaccine diplomacy to increase their soft power during the COVID-19 pandemic. China, an emerging world power, was no exception in this trend. By December 2022, China had dispatched 1.65 billion vaccines worldwide; approximately one-third of the Chinese vaccines were sent to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. China attempted to increase its soft power via vaccine diplomacy to appeal to its neighbours with which it has long-standing territorial disputes in the South China Sea (SCS). Focusing on two key claimants in the SCS, our study has the following research question: How effective was Chinese COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy in the Philippines and Vietnam from a soft power perspective? Through a qualitative multiple case study research design, we determined the effectiveness of Chinese vaccine diplomacy in the Philippines and Vietnam by using four indicators of soft power: public opinion, foreign policy, attractiveness, and business and trade. Data collection consisted of a literature search of academic literature and newspaper articles that were published between 26 May and 13 June 2022. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the data. Analysing the effectiveness of Chinese vaccine diplomacy based on the four indicators of soft power, our results show that only the indicators of attractiveness in Vietnam and business and trade in the Philippines have somewhat improved. In contrast, the indicators of public opinion and foreign policy showed neutral or negative results for China. This study concludes that Chinese vaccine diplomacy in the Philippines and Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic was unsuccessful from a soft power perspective. One reason is that China undermined its soft power approach by simultaneously using hard power tactics in Southeast Asia. Using vaccine diplomacy to increase soft power is not always desirable from a global health perspective. Instead, countries should focus on equitable vaccine access and address asymmetrical power relations.

Strategi Badan Narkotika Nasional Provinsi Jawa Timur dalam Mencegah Penyalahgunaan Narkotika di Lingkup Pelajar dan Mahasiswa Melalui Program P4GN

Narcotics cause a downward effect to loss of consciousness, hallucinations, and excitability. The turn of the globalization era has an impact on the younger generation among students and students who fall into promiscuity, and what's worse is the abuse of narcotics. Therefore, how is the strategy carried out by BNN East Java Province with the stages of implementing the strategy to determine the success of a strategy. This study uses Qualitative Research Methods, is research with the intention of interpreting the phenomena that occur. In qualitative research the methods usually used are interviews and documentation. The researcher processes it by describing the data obtained in the field in the form of written or oral data from the people involved in this research. There are 4 strategies implemented by BNN East Java Province, namely, Soft Power Approach, Hard Power Approach, Smart Power Approach and Cooperation. Of the four strategic points implemented by BNN East Java Province, the researcher took the Soft Power Approach point. East Java's efforts to prevent drug abuse in the scope of students and students are by implementing the Soft Power Approach strategy, namely by providing outreach and providing motivation, as explained above, the BNN of East Java Province guides Counseling Teachers and P4GN Activists in UKM Universities and also students and students, directing the dangers of narcotics and also the efforts made by the BNN of East Java Province in order to make students and students anti-drugs.

Australia’s international alumni engagement strategy: an approach from soft power to knowledge diplomacy

ABSTRACT Scholars have confirmed the diplomacy value and soft power influence of international alumni (IA), but the relationship between IA and knowledge diplomacy (KD) is under-researched. Meanwhile, there needs to be a change from the soft power framework to the knowledge diplomacy framework in international higher education studies to emphasise mutuality rather than dominance. This study explores the relationship and mechanism of IA and KD by document analysis of Australian governmental policies. This study examines and analyses the Australian international alumni engagement strategy and identifies it as a knowledge diplomacy approach rather than a soft power approach. This study also points out the mechanisms of IA and KD. This study informs the Australian government and other governments worldwide to better engage with their valuable IA groups.

Indonesia's Role In Conflict Resolution In Afghanistan Through Soft Power

This research focuses on Indonesia's role in resolving the conflict in Afghanistan through soft power, specifically through cultural and religious equality approaches. The study highlights that the conflict in Afghanistan has had a negative impact on the country's development and stability. Indonesia's special attitude towards foreign policy activities involving Muslim countries is influenced by its large Muslim population and ties with other Muslim countries. The study utilizes qualitative methods, specifically a descriptive-analytic approach, to analyze the subject matter. The research subjects range from books, documents, regulations, meeting minutes, diaries, and historical artifacts. The findings indicate that Indonesia's soft power approach through cultural diversity and tolerance, as well as religious similarity, have contributed to its role as a mediator in the Afghan conflict. The research highlights the Indonesian government's efforts as well as the involvement of Afghan people in Indonesia and moderate Islamic organizations such as the Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah. Overall, this study sheds light on Indonesia's significant role in resolving the conflict in Afghanistan through soft power approaches.

Sikap Indonesia dalam Penyelesaian Konflik Perpindahan Ibu Kota Israel dari Tel Aviv Ke Yerusalem di PBB (2014-2019)

The purpose of this study is to identify and describe the role played by Indonesia in resolving the conflict over the transfer of Israel's capital city from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem at the United Nations from 2014 to 2019. The research method uses qualitative methods with a literature study approach by accumulating various information from the results of studies. beforehand as well as reviewing official documents and mass media regarding the status of Israel and Palestine in the international system. This study uses the concept of National Roles analysis from K. J. Holsti. The research results show that Indonesia acts as a Bastion of Revolution Liberator or a state that acts to eliminate colonialism or anti-colonial attitudes and the same ideological principles maintain peace without using a desire for ethnic unity or a military approach. The conclusion is that Indonesia is still consistent in supporting the existence of Palestine with a soft power or diplomacy approach.
 
 Keywords: Anti-Colonial Attitudes, Ideological Principles, Indonesia, Jerusalem, National Roles Conception

Change in Turkish Foreign Policy towards the Middle East

In the last two decades, Turkey has remarkably transformed its foreign policy towards the Middle East. Ankara with a neo-Ottoman and anti-Western approach has become more evident in the foreign policy practices of Justice and Development Party (known as AKP) government. This article identifies the religious geopolitical imagination of Turkey with civilizationalist and neo-Ottoman visions that have shaped its foreign policy goals and instruments during the AKP government era. The article argues that religious geopolitical imagination is a result of foreign policy change towards the Middle East, which may give a Turkey leading position in the region. Overall, however, the evolution of religious geopolitical imagination can be accounted for not only by foreign policy concerns, but economic interests and domestic political aims also matter. Turkey has applied both hard and soft power approaches to remain in the region, but more focused and balanced soft power capabilities. This rapid change may be the result of internal problems like soaring inflation, plummeting currency, and a decline in popularity of the AKP. This article will give more focus to contemporary developments in Turkish foreign policy towards the Middle East region.

China's Middle East Foreign Policy: A Soft Power Approach and Human Right Issues

By strengthening its relationship with Middle Eastern countries, China continues to increase the security of its Middle Eastern oil imports. The “three ugly forces” of terrorism, national separatism, and religious extremism are something that the Chinese would like to fight against in terms of security. This article examines China’s Middle East foreign policy in the Middle East, soft power business tactics, and human rights issues. Through an analytical and descriptive approach, data were analyzed utilizing the deductive technique of research. To provide a qualitative interpretation of the subject of this article, these data were then processed, validated, and reviewed using the theories of peaceful rise and peaceful development in foreign policy as a theoretical review. The results of this study showed that China promotes a style of Chinese diplomacy in which China will not interfere with domestic political matters or the human rights issues of other countries. China will not put strict requirements on humanitarian assistance or investment. Three fundamental concepts define China’s relations with the Middle Eastern countries: sovereignty projection, the right to protect sovereignty, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. The novelty of this research focuses on China’s soft power and human rights in the Middle East rather than on Joseph Nye’s three pillars of soft power: political values, culture, and foreign policy.

American soft power in Iraqi Kurdistan : a qualitative case analysis

A constructivist IR approach is blended with a Grounded Theory-based analysis of in-depth in interviews in an interpretive discussion of the US’s 2003 invasion of Iraq, its later soft power approach in country, and the responses of young Kurdish participants in an American program in that sphere. The invasion of Iraq is argued to have been the outcome of ideational and cultural as well as realist factors within American society. Analysis of interviews with Kurdish students reveals a) strengths and weaknesses of the American soft power approach, and b) their thoughts on their homeland, its culture, and its future.

The Turkish Soft Power Approach in Diplomatic Relations with Kosovo, 2008–2020

In international political relations, states choose certain models and approaches to apply in order to achieve certain strategic objectives, whether to improve their relations or to accomplish some other goal. Aside from politics and economics, states especially use soft power in these relations, always remaining aware that international relations can be counterproductive; thus a high level of acceptance by the other state, in our case Turkey, is important. Turkey is the successor to the Ottoman Empire, and it still tends to exert its influence on the Balkan region based on neo-Ottomanism. History, traditions, customs, ways of life, symbols, and the possibility of movement often turn out to be the best mechanisms for building relationships, initially between societies and subsequently between political entities. This paper highlights relations between Kosovo and Turkey, especially at certain times when they have experienced barely noticeable cracks. It looks at these relations through bottom-up reports expressing positive perceptions resulting from Turkey’s soft approach vis-à-vis Kosovo, especially in terms of cultural proximity, the possibility of movement, trade, and other social values.

REGIONAL SECURITY COMPLEX THEORY AND SOFT POWER: MAPPING CHINA’S ENGAGEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN

The paramount interest of China in Afghanistan seems to ensure peace and stability in the region. Beijing’s soft power approach towards Afghanistan through its neutral stance and minimum involvement in domestic politics within Afghanistan proved to be an advantage in cementing China’s role in Afghanistan as a credible mediator. China extends its influence in the region through the Belt and Road Initiative, where the importance of CPEC is interlinked with the development of China’s western sector. China aims to harness the Afghan territory for its transit routes because Afghanistan bridges the connectivity gap between Central Asia and West Asia. This paper highlights that the current interests of China in Afghanistan are multiple. China is utilizing all the soft power elements to promote and expand the areas of activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to South Asia because stability in Afghanistan cannot be achieved solely. Understanding Regional Security Complex Theory and Soft Power can encapsulate China’s engagement in Afghanistan. It has made a considerable effort by highlighting regional complexities on various multilateral fronts like China-Pakistan-Afghanistan, China-Russia-Afghanistan, and China-Russia-Pakistan-Iran. This study develops an analytical framework of South Asian security from the regional point of view and analyses external powers' role in the transition of regional security complexes. Bibliography Entry Tahir, Mariam. 2022. "Regional Security Complex Theory and Soft Power: Mapping China’s Engagement in Afghanistan." Margalla Papers 26 (2): 39-48.

Analysing Knowledge Diplomacy and Differentiating It from Soft Power and Cultural, Science, Education and Public Diplomacies

Summary The purpose of this article is to explore the contemporary role of international higher education, research and innovation (IHERI) in international relations (IR). Using an interdisciplinary and conceptual approach, it examines how diplomacy and higher education scholars understand and label the rationales, strategies and contributions of IHERI to IR. The findings indicate that multiple terms are used, resulting in terminology chaos and confusion. The concept of knowledge diplomacy is proposed, defined and analysed as a comprehensive term to frame the role of IHERI in IR. The similarities and differences between knowledge diplomacy and related terms such as cultural, public, science and education diplomacy and soft power are examined. Issues that require further investigation are identified, with special attention given to the differences between using a knowledge diplomacy approach versus a soft power approach to understand the role of IHERI in IR.

An Analysis of India’s Soft Power Policy in Afghanistan

Since 2001, India has pursued a non-military, non-coercive and co-optive (soft power) policy towards Afghanistan. India’s soft power approach of forging economic (aid), humanitarian, capacity building and institutional links vis-à-vis Afghanistan tried to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan government (pre-August 2021) and the ordinary Afghans. The data reveal that India has impacted and generated goodwill by spending billions of dollars on infrastructure. The method used in this study is primarily analytical and explanatory. The research for this study is based on both primary and secondary sources, collected from both archival and online resources. The focus of this article is to comprehensively study and evaluate the usefulness of India’s soft power policy in Afghanistan since 2001.

SOFT POWER PARADIGM OF INDONESIA’S DEFENSE

<div><p class="Els-history-head">The proposed strategic budget of US$ 104,247 billion submitted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense in mid-2021 has created a debate about Indonesia's Quo Vadis defense spending. Some questions need to be answered to provide insight into the process of selecting the best method for Indonesia's defense. Increasing national defense capabilities should refer to the global dynamics to accommodate Indonesia's national interests. This research uses document study, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), field observations for data collection, PEST analysis (Political, Economy, Social, and Technology), as well as SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), and ends with interactive analysis to obtain inductive conclusions. The purpose of this study is to see how Indonesia's weaknesses and strengths, both hard power and soft power, thus proceed to interactive analysis. The results show that the soft power method is considered the most appropriate to the current global and strategic conditions. Increasing the capability of the defense equipment only without prioritizing aspects of the soft power approach has the potential to make Indonesia included in the mapping of major power state threats. The soft power approach must be put forward but also mutually enable hard power capabilities. The mutualism of those aspects is considered effective to gain Indonesia’s defense strength. </p></div>