Against Soft Power
Via Michael Crowley, Michael Chertoff is making sense:
The Bush administration’s point man in protecting America against terrorism says U.S. investments in safety should not be restricted to airport screening machines or border fences. Michael Chertoff says the U.S. also should spend more on foreign-aid programs, scholarships for foreign students and other tools of so-called soft power. [...]
Mr. Chertoff said he came to his views over the past six months or so, when he finally had time to think about big-picture challenges. Now, he said, “a lasting victory in the safeguarding of the country” can be achieved only by marrying traditional security with winning “a contest of ideas, and a battle for the allegiance of men and women around the world.”
It is a case that President George W. Bush’s critics have pressed for years, although Mr. Chertoff is careful not to criticize his boss. The term “soft power” was coined and popularized in the 1990s by one such critic, Joseph Nye, a Harvard professor who is among the nation’s pre-eminent liberal thinkers on foreign policy.
I might note that draconian security rules and visa policies are not helpful in this regard, something Chertoff might want to consider. Foreigners don’t like being treated as if there’s a presumption that citizens of all foreign countries are terrorists until proven innocent.
That said, can we retire the term “soft power” already? I always feel that it’s been popularized not so much by Professor Nye as by deranged warmongers who like the idea of terming every alternative to militarism as somehow “soft,” fluffy, and weak. Soft Power is a good book, but it’s a bad coinage for an era in which national security issues have returned as a partisan political topic, and I don’t think it’s an especially great label for what Nye’s talking about.
44 Responses to “Against Soft Power”
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December 3rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Soft power is bad precisely because it is soft, as Matt points out. It not only presents an alternative to war, it also attempts to eliminate the need for future wars permanently. And what would we do without glorious, glorious war? History is so boring without it.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
“…a contest of ideas, and a battle for the allegiance of men and women around the world.”
He’s kidding right? it’s well documented that America has lost that contest and its fake moral superiority long time ago.
American Dream has been and will always bee a big pile of stinking, well, you know the rest.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
How about tumescent and detumescent power?
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I think the other modifier to then drop is “power”, because it’s added on as a concession to addled hawk mentalities who must be reminded that if you get an outcome you want, it’s “power”. The hawks know they like “power”, and they associate militarism with “power”, so you’ve got to go out of your way to get them to think that, you know, reason and rationality is sort of a form of “power” too, so maybe they’ll be willing to take their cough syrup instead of screaming how they want candy now now now.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
A much better form might be “subtle power” — the opposite of soft is hard, but the opposite of subtle is blatant.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
This only came to his mind in the last 6 months? What a moron!
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
On a somewhat related note, can anybody explain to me how Condoleeza Rice’s comments with respect to Pakistan (basically telling them what to do) help matters? I realize heading off a potentially disastrous decline in India-Pakistan relations — and simple justice — would be greatly helped by making arrests and handing the suspects over to New Delhi. But US diplomatic efforts seem never to comprehend that, right now, the US Government is not a very well-liked or popular player in places like Pakistan. A perception by millions of Pakistanis that Washington is ordering Islamabad around — as opposed to simply wording the request as, well, a request — surely makes it much more difficult for Pakistan’s government to comply. For my money the single most depressing thing about Bushian foreign policy is its propensity to do exactly what our death cult enemies want us to do.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Via Michael Chertoff is making sense:
I think you’re missing a “Crowley, Michael” in there.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
In terms of Lakoffian framing, I’d suggest “broad power” to refer to cultural, economic, societal tactics and “narrow power” to refer to tactics that target buildings or individuals. Either could be more or less militaristic so the debate gets shifted away from the stupid (should we send “soldiers” or “peace keepers”?) to the relevant (is the cause of the problem localized or pervasive).
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
How about “constructive power” versus “destructive power?” We can kill people and blow things up better than any other country on the planet. This can be useful, but trying to build things using just a sledgehammer is not a good idea.
This also provides a way to think about nation building not as a military endeavor. All of the things that go into soft power are positive-sum, while the exercise of hard power is, as you said yesterday, usually negative-sum.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
How about “influence?”
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Tumescent power is when you really want to fuck some country. Detumescent power is when you just want to cuddle.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Honey Power v. Vinegar Power? As in, alternative strategies for catching flies?
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
In reality you attract more flies with vinegar, since it smells as the byproduct of over-ripe / rotting fruits.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
How about Death Star Power vs. These Are Not The Droids You’re Looking For Power?
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:33 pm
“broad”/”narrow” and “constructive”/”destructive” are pretty good. The latter distinction, while accurate, may be less catchy because it contains too much of a value judgement.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
axis-bending
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
it’s not just foreigners who resent the presumption that they are potential terrorists. I, as a citizen of the US, resent the presumption that if I want to take an airplane trip I’m a potential terrorist; and having to prove that I’m not. I resent being stopped by the Border Patrol, within my own country and (after affirming my US citizenship) being asked where I’m going – non of their f-ing business!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
In reality you attract more flies with vinegar, since it smells as the byproduct of over-ripe / rotting fruits
Actually, I find that you always attract the most flies with shit.
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I know Chertoff (knew him years ago before he was a Federal Judge). He’s a Jewish Eichmann. There’s nothing he won’t say or do to save his skin. If it were fashionable to start dropping babies from airplanes – he’d be for that too, now.
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Your photo causes me to wonder which Bush Pioneer received the contract for all those gray plastic trays used at airports. Why do I feel they are produced for 20 cents and sold for $2?
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