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Have you ever tried to be nice to people instead of threatening them to get what you want ? That's the idea

• coldtea 2y ago
  Doesn't work if what you want is against their interests. Hence "soft power" and, if that fails, "bombing for democracy".
  • fn-mote 2y ago
    > Doesn't work if what you want is against their interests. There’s a world of difference between “against my interest” and “worth my effort”. Soft power could help in that gap. I’m not actually sure we disagree - this is more of an elaboration.
  • jmye 2y ago
    Soft power is also building roads and hospitals in Africa (see: China) because you want the country to deal with you first (because they’ve you as a friend, even if you both know it’s a transactional relationship) when they go to sell resources they have. It’s not just trying to strong arm people into doing things they don’t want to do. You have a deeply antagonistic view of all of this. Is there a reason? Do you think that the EU doesn’t employ soft power? That China doesn’t? Do you seriously see no difference between, for instance, seeing value in large numbers of people speaking some English and having a positive view of your country, and whatever “bombing for democracy” is supposed to represent?