Soft Power Tool Research Articles

Deconstructing Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Aid Motives to Yemen

This research assesses the motives of Saudi Arabia’s aid to Yemen. Saudi Arabia has been the most significant donor to the country whilst threatening humanitarian conditions in Yemen through its military intervention. Thus, this research aims to unveil the Kingdom’s reasons to provide foreign aid to Yemen whilst doing the military intervention. This research uses the seven foreign aid frames according to Veen (2011) to analyse possible interest implied in the Kingdom’s foreign aid delivery to Yemen. The method used in this research is a literature review by analysing the Kingdom’s official statements published on the government's official websites and an interview with a Middle East expert. The statements were coded using qualitative analysis software, Atlas.ti. This study finds that Saudi Arabia has four significant motives to provide foreign aid to Yemen, namely humanitarian, reputation, security, and power. The four frames are connected but mostly related to the Kingdom’s objective to maintain its power. Thus, foreign aid is used as a soft power tool to preserve Saudi Arabia’s influence against economic and security threats, prevent an unfriendly regime from ruling Yemen, and increase its reputation in the international sphere.

India’s Vaccine Diplomacy and Changing Geopolitics in the Global South

Vaccine diplomacy has developed new dynamics of geopolitics between the world’s superpowers as a result of global COVID-19 pandemic vaccination. This study contributes to the existing body of literature on geopolitics in the global South while focusing on changing aspects of geopolitics resulting in India's vaccine diplomacy. It primarily determines the geopolitical agendas behind vaccine diplomatic practices of India, which is used as tool of soft power to influence the internal affairs of the countries in the global South. As a result, this study reveals the emerging dynamics of geopolitics which resulted in India’s vaccine diplomacy in the means of COVID-19 cooperation, including South Asia, driven by the power competition between the world’s superpowers such as the USA, the USSR and China. The study’s data and information are based on a mixed method which is secondary qualitative and quantitative facts that were gleaned via archival research. These findings discovered that India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ vaccine policy has extended to South Asian countries while ranging its vaccine cooperation towards the developed and developing nations in the global South and beyond, under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ program. Behind these vaccine campaigns, India is engaged in a geopolitical struggle over the global South against the USA, the USSR and China in place of its geopolitical agenda with the hopes of authenticating the solitary authority as the regional power beyond Asia. India's ultimate goal of regional supremacy has now given rise to a geopolitical conflict as world superpowers have launched their vaccine diplomatic campaigns against India in the global South. These tensions that underlie India's vaccine diplomacy are currently driving significant changes in regional geopolitics in the global South.

Perceived Effects of Olympic Success on International Policies and Prestige: A Case Study of Sports Actors from Iran

For some nations where these events cannot be facilitated, Olympic success would be more significant. Governments often believe that winning medals enhances their image globally, which is their reason to invest and intervene in elite sports. Based on this belief, the researchers tried to determine how sports actors perceive the relationship between elite sporting success and prestige and its reflection on their related policies. To achieve this purpose, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Iranian sports officials and sport managers in charge of elite sports. The results identified four themes in interviewees' speeches related to the objective of the study, including (1) sporting success at the Olympic Games and international prestige, (2) fairness and international prestige, (3) sport and diplomatic relations, (4) media coverage and international prestige. Taken together, these results suggest that the concept of international prestige is notably essential when it comes to the country where the international image might not be positive toward that particular country. Sports as a soft power tool can play this role and build a positive image for that country in different ways. The findings contribute to elite sporting success, sports and country image research, sports international prestige, and sports diplomacy in Iran. Keywords: Olympic success

THE INFORMATION AGENDA OF THE TURKIC-SLAVIC WORLD IN THE CONTEXT OF THE IMAGE POSITIONING OF STATES

The article presents an analysis of the information agenda of the Turkic-Slavic world from January to July 2022. The results of the analysis are based on the data of the media monitoring and analysis system "Medialogy", the selection of publications was carried out using the keywords "Turkology", "Turkic world". However, we considered it possible and necessary to include the Slavic world, since all the political, economic and axiological events of 2022 are reflected in the regional international climate of the post-Soviet space. All participants of the geopolitical rivalry use the media to promote their national interests through image, soft power tools, activity in social networks and the "fifth column" in the recipient states.

ROLE OF SOFT POWER IN THE UNITED STATES’ FOREIGN POLICY

This research addresses the role of soft power in the American foreign policy. Moreover, it identifies the tools and resources of soft power and the extent of using soft power tools by decision-makers. The study assumes that there is a link between using soft power in foreign policy and the state's attractiveness and its ability to achieve its interest. To achieve the objectives of research and answer its questions the study followed the historical approach, analytical approach, and national interest approach. It was concluded that the soft power has played an active role in the U.S. foreign policy. However, it witnessed a decline between one presidential term and another, or when it sometimes merged with hard power. The findings distinguish this study from the existing literature as it ventures beyond theorizing the concept of soft power and presents practical examples. Moreover, in addition to highlighting the changing role of soft power in the U.S. foreign policy, this study has revealed a type of internal conflict as some leaders focus on hard power.

Soviet Medical Internationalism amid Destalinization, 1953–1958

Abstract This article reconstructs the story of the Soviet Union’s medical internationalism amid the early years of destalinization, when it re-engaged more actively in the global health community. How did the USSR attempt to leverage medicine as a tool of soft power in both multilateral and bilateral relations? Based on records of the USSR Ministry of Health and the Medical Workers Union, as well as newspapers and other published sources, it analyzes what destalinization meant for physicians and public health administrators who sought greater exchange with and connection to their colleagues abroad. A widening web of interconnections in this transitional period paved the way to greater integration in a global medical community. Soviet medical and health professionals nurtured international relationships with a range of strategies, expectations, and aspirations. They used these opportunities to learn, and also to speak back to their superiors and to shape the trajectories of domestic research agendas.

The Impact of Sport on the Reputation of States in the Modern Political Agenda

The article is devoted to the use of sports as a tool of soft power, the influence of sports on the formation of the image of the state. The material examines the increased role of international sports organizations and sports in general. It is noted that in the modern world the possibilities of sports diplomacy have seriously increased. Particular attention is paid to the confrontation between the Middle Eastern states, which have practically mastered the ability to politically influence the world community using the tools of sports diplomacy.Theoretical generalizations and comparative analysis made it possible to analyze the resonant sports events that took place at the largest tennis, judo and rally racing competitions.The aim of the work is to determine the influence of sport as an effective means of soft power in modern international relations.As a result of the study, various types of use of sports as a tool of soft power were demonstrated, and its effectiveness as an effective means of political struggle was proved using the example of the Middle East states. As a conclusion, it can be noted that at present, states that successfully combine various aspects of public diplomacy will achieve greater success. In this context, the development of sports at the national level makes it possible to increase the reputation of the state, creates a positive image, which makes it possible to achieve certain goals in the political arena.

Арктическая научная дипломатия России: теория и практика

Arctic science diplomacy (ASD) is both a relatively new topic and an acute issue in Russian academic and political circles. There is neither a clear definition of the concept nor a consensus on the stakeholders, tools, and activities of science diplomacy. This article focuses on the main approaches in Russia in relation to the concept of ASD. The first approach considers ASD as a soft power tool of regional players. Science diplomacy helps to promote a positive image of specific states and to gain access to non-state resources that are usually inaccessible to state actors. A technical/instrumentalist approach to ASD involves the use of academic and scientific-technical cooperation between regions, countries, and societies to create reliable international partnerships on a non-ideological basis and to solve generally significant world problems. The third direction considers ASD as a form of new diplomacy, the strategic goal of which is not only to build friendly relations and cooperation with all Arctic countries, but also to develop international scientific cooperation and improve the international image of Russia. This analysis makes it possible to explain the strategic motives and driving forces of ASD and to identify the stakeholders and key forms of Russia’s ASD. It is established that the majority of the participants of ASD share the idea that international scientific cooperation in order to ensure the sustainable development of the Arctic can become an effective mechanism for solving the most acute problems of the region, as well as for improving the current relations of Western countries with Russia. The authors believe that Russia has largely managed to form the necessary platforms for the implementation of both strategic and tactical goals of its ASD. These platforms include both national platforms (the international forum “The Arctic: The Territory of Dialogue” and “The Arctic: Present and Future”) and the active use of international platforms (“Arctic Frontiers,” “Polar Circle,” and “Arctic Science Summit Week”) and organizations such as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA), and the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS).

Sports and the Identity of Ethnies: the Case of Basque and Frisian

Full-fledged nations have had, and continue to have, the possibility to strengthen their national identity by participating in international sports competitions, such as the Olympic Games, and can use positive results in the international sports arena for national self-assertion. Globalization has opened up even more possibilities for nations to participate in international competitions. Ethnic and national minorities, classified as ethnies in the sense of Smith (see references), are excluded from these possibilities. Athletes and teams of ethnic and national minorities can only participate in international competitions if they join the sports ranks of the majority nation. However, another strategy is observed among ethnic and national minorities in order to make use of sports as a tool of soft power to strengthen internal cohesion and to team up with international sports organizations, like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). It turns out that among ethnic and national minorities, unique sports are to be found that form a substantial attribute of their identities. In this paper, this sports strategy of ethnies will be illustrated with two case studies, namely autochthonous sports that have originated from the Basque minorities in Spain and France and the Frisian minority in the Netherlands.

A Politica Externa da União Europeia Medidas Restritivas e Proteção Humanitária

The genesis of the European Union (EU) is focused on the regional integration purpose which aims to assure peace. Although various impulses have been introduced in order to establish a collective external policy, this one was confronted with somewhat diverging national perspectives. As the EU shares common values in the issues of democracy, human rights and state of law, it is recognized as an essentially humanitarian power that uses soft power tools in its external relations. The application of restrictive measures such as restrictions concerning political and diplomatic nature, admission and circulation, and trade and financial nature, has been used with the goal of changing behaviours or policies of states, entities or individuals who break the principles of international or humanitarian law. The paper aims to articulate the EU sanction regimes, as a result of a gradual legal framework that reached the EU Global Regime of Sanctions in Human Rights, with the adoption of strategic action plans in human rights and democracy.

INTERNATIONALIZATION OF TERTIARY EDUCATION AS SOFT POWER BY THE REVISIONIST FORCES

This article covers the use of the internationalization of higher education as a soft power tool by revisionist countries in international relations. Whereas the common view of scholars is that revisionist forces tend to activate their hard power means as in the case of India about her dispute with Pakistan and Russia against Ukraine, their soft power engagement is tremendously important. While internationalization in higher education was the monopoly of the hegemonic and colonial powers previously, in recent years the progress of revisionist forces in this regard has been noted. Since soft power engagement forms vary with the stunning transformations after the millennium, internationalization of higher education is the latest trend. When examining the published data on international student mobility, we have determined that revisionist powers China, Türkiye, and Russia are among the top ten countries hosting the most international students.

«Мягкая сила» малых стран: опыт Монголии

Introduction. The experience of recent decades shows small countries — though characterized by relatively limited foreign policy capacity — can defend their interests through ‘soft power’. Being obviously inferior to greater powers in military, political and economic aspects, small countries seek to compensate for their vulnerability with softer methods of influence. Nowadays, Mongolia is a classic case of a small country under the influence of such great powers as Russia, China, and the United States to successfully employ soft power tools. Goals. The article aims to identify where and how Mongolia uses soft power in its foreign policy. Materials and methods. The study primarily explores Mongolia’s official documents dealing with its national security and foreign policy, international initiatives of Ulaanbaatar, statements of Mongolian executives on relations with foreign partners, media materials. The employed research methods include the comparative, narrative, and retrospective ones. Results. There are three most promising lines for soft power in contemporary Mongolia’s foreign policy. The first one is that the country presents itself as a successful young democracy in the heart of Asia capable of becoming a model for a number of other small countries in the region. The second one is the policy of de facto neutrality manifested in refusal to deploy nuclear weapons and foreign military bases in Mongolian territory, as well as the active participation in UN peacekeeping operations. Finally, the third soft power line (to be perceived as one) is Ulaanbaatar’s active promotion of its mediation role to resolve urgent problems localized in Northeast Asia. Maintaining friendly relations with virtually all Northeast Asian states, Mongolia seeks to become a platform for international negotiations similar to that of Switzerland. Conclusions. Thus, soft power for Ulaanbaatar is an important two-sided tool supposed, firstly, to accelerate international influence and, secondly, to ensure national security and sovereignty.

AFRICA: UKRAINIAN INTERESTS VS RUSSIAN INFLUENCE

The article examines the political trends in the African region in the context of Ukraine's national security, and provides recommendations to improve the situation. According to the latest version of Ukraine’s National Security Strategy, the priority in the African region has been placed on diversifying markets and strengthening Ukraine’s political support in the face of Russian aggression. A significant threat is the growing presence of the Russian Federation in the African region with its extensive usage of both force and soft power tools, which was particularly evident at the Russia-Africa summit in October 2019 and the rapid spread of demand for the Russian “Sputnik V” vaccine against COVID-19 in 2021. Another related issue is the low level of support for Ukraine’s declarations in the UN General Assembly condemning human rights violations in occupied Crimea. The UN vote on occupied Crimea is one of the main factors in assessing relations with African governments, which Russian experts clearly point out. This reality highlights the need to increase Ukraine’s diplomatic presence and political weight in the African region in order to better contain the influence of the Russian Federation. Another important task is to monitor the destructive activities of the Russian Federation often aimed at fueling chaos, which could encourage local governments to establish closer bilateral relations with Moscow. At times, Russian policy has gone as far as supporting military coups that help to increase the level of Russian military and political presence in some states (for example, the cases of Mali in May 2021 and Sudan in October 2021).Strengthening the diplomatic level of representation in the region is a priority of Ukrainian foreign policy. In addition, the separation of economic and military-political factors is a problem for Ukraine. Trade is developing mostly with the stable countries of the eastern and southern parts of Africa, while the turbulent landscape of the west and center (except Nigeria) is poorly covered by the activities of Ukrainian enterprises. However, Ukrainian peacekeeping contingents have been active in these countries for a long time (primarily in the DRC).

Politics of Grassroot Sports Diplomacy in National Cohesion

The current international relations system is quite dynamic, forcing many state governments to turn to sports as the most efficient soft power tool. Sports is perceived as an integral element of national identity more so, for a country that internationally has a good reputation in sports. Values of sports diplomacy include competition, teamwork and fair play. This form of diplomacy has the potential to inform, engage and influence key actors, especially youth, emerging leaders and women and girls. However, sports, as a diplomatic tool has been always associated with mega-sport events, elite sports and professional athletes, neglecting sports at the grassroots level, where the organizations, interventions and stakeholders are considered irrelevant for state-led public diplomacy. Yet, grassroots sport-based interventions have the capability of strengthening people-to-people relations, hence contributing to national cohesion. By developing grassroots sports, the objective is to grow elite sports men and women who will eventually form teams that will compete favorably on the international arena. This paper hence discusses the politics of grassroots sports diplomacy towards national cohesion. It specifically addresses three objectives; First, it examines actors in grassroots sports diplomacy; Secondly, it Assesses tools used to promote grassroots sports and lastly it interrogates the discourse on grassroots sports diplomacy towards national cohesion. . A descriptive research design enabled primary and secondary data to be collected. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The paper concludes that grassroots sport diplomacy creates cooperative relations among citizens hence addressing the national unity crisis that most countries are faced with. Recommendations in relation to grassroots sports diplomacy as a tool for national cohesion have also been included.

A GENUINE BLEND OF STATECRAFTS

Power transition in the international order and the position of China in this order have triggered ramifications in China's foreign policy strategy toward the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Its foreign policy approach has evolved from strict non-intervention to an assertive policy at the international level and constructive engagement at the regional level. China has simultaneously been applying both soft and hard power to protect its national interests in MENA. This study aims to assess China's four-pillar MENA policy from the perspective of its smart power strategy by examining its hard power means and soft power tools.

Sports Press as a Soft Power Tool in the Polish-German Border Plebiscite of 1921

According to the will of World War I’s victors, a plebiscite planned for 1921 would determine the border demarcation between Germany and reborn Poland. In the conflict with Germany, Poland was the weaker side, both in political, military and economic terms, and needed to use a wide range of tools to achieve a favourable result in the planned plebiscite. The Polish side used the sports press as a soft power tool which played a special role in the plebiscite’s campaign. The sports press presented Poland as a modern country that promoted democratic sports disciplines and having excellent contacts with European sports which were in opposition to Germany, the war loser excluded from the Olympic family and now unattractive in sports terms. In the soft power context, the sports press contributed to building a local community and to sports and hygienic education by using non-material energy resources.

US Soft Power through Hollywood during Cold War: Rocky IV

Power has always been a concept around which many have been pondering, in a sense of trying to achieve it. International relations have mostly been about power, according to realism, amongst other shifts in the international politics, so it is crucial to understand it. Since the world, after the World Wars, shifted from violence and wars, a new power remerged, called soft power, which now relies more on the global influence, and not on hard means of power like. Soft power is best described as imposing influence on the other states, through different canals like movies, student exchanges, media, etc. USA, as a superpower, employed soft power as a mean of spreading their political and ideological influence, especially during the Cold War. One of the tools of soft power employed, was through pop culture of the 1980s, via Hollywood industry and creation of USA-themed big-grossing movies, with great actors and popular topics. US movie industry focused on creating plots of the movies which would indirectly exert influence on the wider masses, in Europe, USSR, and other countries. One of those movies is Rocky saga, which are the movies about a boxing US hero, who is unbeatable, and poses as a symbol of US power. This movie, with a focus on Rocky IV, is a great example of how USA employed soft power through Hollywood industry, and the acceptance of the movie in the 1980s by the global mass is a great example of how influential soft power can truly be.

Soft Power of the Russian Federation: Instrumental and Perceptional Dimensions

Abstract The article analyzes specifics of instrumental and perceptional dimensions of the soft power of Russia. The analysis of these dimensions is particularly relevant in terms of studying the likelihood of the fact that Russia may continue applying the soft power strategy of long-term external influence. The main tools of the instrumental foundation of Russia’s soft power have been analyzed. Russia’s position in the rankings of well-known international rating agencies have been compared. The comprehensive studies are considered to be promising, combining detailed analysis of the soft power tools in the domestic and foreign policy strategy of the Russian Federation and the way it is perceived by different target audiences. It is concluded that foreign countries and societies perception of the soft tools application (mostly perceived as propaganda) may affect Russia’s low position in international soft power and branding rankings.

Understanding COVID-19: A Hybrid Threat and Its Impact on Sport Mega-Events. A Focus on Japan and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 affected the sports industry with the cancellation of many professional sports competitions worldwide. Thus, the postponement and organization of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games behind closed doors became a significant disruption to the global sports landscape. In this paper, we present a novel, conceptual discussion, signifying and defining the pandemic via the concept of international security as a hybrid threat. We associated the term hybrid threat to clarify better the difficult times facing sport mega-events. First, the paper proffers that the COVID-19 pandemic is a form of hybrid threat while reflecting on the connected implications of using sport as a soft power tool for nations. Secondly, we discuss the impact of COVID-19 on sport mega-events globally and explain the implications of COVID-19 on the Tokyo 2020 summer Olympic Games. This paper although drawing on some figures associated with COVID-19 and the Tokyo Olympic Games presents a theoretical contribution to knowledge in the area of sport mega events, soft power and hybrid threat. We outline how the threats, triggered by the pandemic, have impeded a successful Olympic Games and clarify how these threats have affected Japan's opportunity to use the Games as a soft power tool, which is the paper's key contribution to the field.

China’s media strategy towards Israel

ABSTRACT This article examines China’s media strategy and activities towards Israel, underscoring its recent increase in intensity. By way of doing so, the article explores Beijing’s use of journalism and other Israeli media outlets on the one hand, and the employment of direct Chinese soft power tools, from China Radio International (CRI), to the establishment of Chinese institutes in Israel, to public and media activities of Israel-based Chinese diplomats.