Chinese soft power

JOSEPH NYE of the Harvard University and WANG JISI of the Peking University School of International Studies state that increasing references to soft power by Chinese leaders and academics reflected a sophisticated realist strategy to complement its rising hard power. In an article for the Harvard International Review,"Hard Decisions on Soft Power:Opportunities and Difficulties for Chinese Soft Power", they conclude that soft power was not a zero-sum game in the context of Sino-US relations and that if both became more attractive in each others’ eyes, the prospects of damaging conflicts would reduce significantly.

Backing Soft power with hard power

JOHN LEE of the Australia's Centre for Independent Studies analyzes India's soft power and argues that India's soft power potential was based not just on its culture and values but also on the alignment of those values to regional and global standards. In a Foreign Policy Analysis article, "Unrealised potential: India's 'soft power' ambition in Asia", he cautions that India's potential suffered from lingering uncertainty since its soft power was not perceived as being adequately backed by 'hard power' and that could improve only if it undertook reforms.

Soft vs Hard power in Afghanistan

Harsh Pant of King's College, London claims that India’s attempt to leverage its ‘soft power’ in Afghanistan by focusing on civilian matters is becoming increasingly risky in the wake of the attacks on the Indian embassy in Kabul and that could force a change in strategy. In a commentary for ISN Security Watch, "India in Afghanistan", he states that the debate on how to approach Afghanistan is not close to a resolution in Indian political corridors, any change in strategy will have serious implications for the future of India’s rise as global power and regional security in South Asia.