What is the difference between hard power and soft power in U.S. foreign policy? How did hard power figure prominently during the Cold War? How has the uncertainty of the modern world made the use of hard power less effective?

Question

Describe how a foreign policy approach can combine both hard and soft power to be most effective.

Answer:

Answer 1

An ideal response will:
1. Explain that hard power involves using military strength to force another nation to act a certain way under the threat of attack, while soft power involves using negotiation and diplomacy to solve international problems.
2. Identify that hard power was the basis of the theory of deterrence, under which the United States maintained enough nuclear weapons to deter the Soviet Union from attacking it.
3. Discuss how hard power and military might are no longer enough to ensure success in dealing with international problems such as free trade, global climate change, and terrorism, the solutions to which demand understanding and cooperation between countries.
4. Outline how the most effective approach involves a combination of conventional diplomacy to send clear messages to nations, foreign aid to help nations in need, economic sanctions to isolate adversaries, public diplomacy to help other nations understand the U.S. agenda, coalition building to gain support from other countries, and military action when necessary