This open access book consists of essays selected from Joseph S. Nye, Jr.’s last three decades of writing and illustrate a variety of perspectives on the nature of power, the role of the United States in the world and US-China relations. Through this collection, it is hoped that readers will gain a better understanding of today’s global environment and find that while great power competition may be inevitable in a world as centers of power shift, cooperating to address transnational challenges can be a positive sum game.
The contents of this book are divided into four main parts. Part One discusses the origins and political progress of the concept of “Soft Power”. Part Two explores soft power in the American experience, its sources and interaction with US foreign policy, as well as its ebb and flow in the age of Obama, Trump and Biden. Part Three examines the rise of and the opportunities and difficulties for Chinese soft power, focusing on China’s investment in soft power and how this demonstrates its commitment to a peaceful rise. However, it also addresses the question of how can China get “smart” on how it uses soft power. Part Four provides a bird’s-eye view of power shifts in the 21st century and the interactions between the US as an established power and China as a rising power, while also reassuring readers that Thucydidean fears are unnecessary and a Cold War is avoidable. Both countries have to realize that some forms of power must be exercised with others, not over others, the development of soft power need not be a zero-sum game. Ultimately, the US-China relationship is a “cooperative rivalry” where a successful strategy of “smart competition” is necessary and cooperation on transnational challenges like climate change, pandemics, cyberterrorism and nuclear proliferation, will serve to benefit not only China and the US, but the world as a whole.
Author(s): Joseph S. Nye
Series: China and Globalization
Publisher: Springer-CCG
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 186
City: Beijing
Preface
Contents
About the Author
The Role of Soft Power in Global Politics
Soft Power
The Great-Power Shift
Converting Power
The Changing Face of Power
The Limits of Soft Power
State Smart Power Strategies
Understanding Twenty-First Century Power Shifts
Soft Power: The Origins and Political Progress of a Concept
What is a Moral Foreign Policy?
Soft Power in the American Experience
Soft Power and American Foreign Policy
The Costs of Ignoring Soft Power
American Empire?
American Foreign Policy Traditions
Soft Power and Policy
Get Smart: Combining Hard and Soft Power
Contextual Intelligence
Success in the Information Age
Obama the Pragmatist
American Soft Power in the Age of Trump
Trump’s Effect on US Foreign Policy
Can Joe Biden’s America Be Trusted?
After the Liberal International Order
The Rise of Chinese Soft Power
As China Rises, Must Others Bow?
Look Both Ways
The Systems Question
Common Interests
The Case for Friendship
The Rise of China’s Soft Power
Hard Decisions on Soft Power: Opportunities and Difficulties for Chinese Soft Power
Soft Power
The “Soft Power” Discourse in China
How the Chinese View Their Soft Power
Interaction Between China and the United States
Conclusions
Xi Jinping’s Marco Polo Strategy
Does China Have Feet of Clay?
Perspectives for a China Strategy
Assessing Chinese Power
American Assets
Devising a Strategy
Conclusion: Cooperative Rivalry
US-China Relations and the Role of Soft Power
The “Nye Report:” Six Years Later
East Asia in 1995
East Asia, 2001
Conclusions
The Dollar and the Dragon
Is China Overtaking America?
The Financial Crisis and US-China Misperceptions
Work with China, Don’t Contain It
The Future of U.S.-China Relations
The Kindleberger Trap
The Cooperative Rivalry of US-China Relations
The Future of U.S.-China Relations After Buenos Aires
For the US and China, Interdependence is a Double-Edged Sword
Cold War with China Is Avoidable
The Logic of US-China Competition
Appendix Dialogue on US-China Balance of Power
Index
