Joseph Nye, who has died aged 88, owed his fame in the diplomatic world to just two words: “soft power”. The international affairs scholar came up with the phrase while sitting at his kitchen table trying to find a way to condense and encapsulate his approach to US foreign policy.
He acknowledged military force and economic power were essential components in pursuit of the national interest but argued there was a third element, one not requiring force, that was under-appreciated. He called it soft power: influence gained through aid, culture, news and agencies promoting human rights, democracy and freedom of speech.
