Soft Power, Hard Edges: Culture as a Tool of Geopolitical Influence

From Hollywood to K-pop, the export of culture is never just entertainment—it is the projection of a worldview, a way of living, a set of aspirations.

Joseph Nye coined the term "soft power" to describe the ability of a country to persuade others to do what it wants without force or coercion. In the modern globalized marketplace, soft power has become just as critical as hard military or economic power.