Question

Define hard and soft power (in terms of international relations). Briefly discuss who in the government has power to use these powers.

Answer 1

In International politics soft power is nothing but the power that is used for co-optation rather than coercion and non corecive is the defining feature of soft power. Hard power is different than soft power because it has the power to coerce or punish. Example of hard power is military attacks and trade restrictions where the foreign policies of the member countries can use hard power and at times there are disputes settled through military intervention and this is also hard power. Example of soft power include communication, peace treaty rationing etc and this power is also with the the leaders of the respective States where the can come together co-operate with each other as soft power is more effective than hard power