DAFF 25A10 - American Soft Power — Pedagogical Programmes and Course Directory

Information

Description

The ability of the United States to influence through attraction has been a pillar of the expression of its power throughout the world. The US has capitalized on the appeal of its values, culture, political system, economic success, and scientific innovations to set the global agenda, achieve its foreign policy objectives, and enhance its power. In a climate of both intense domestic polarization and increasing challenges to the US-led order, we will examine the state of soft power currently and the role it may play in preserving, defending, and rallying support for American interests in a multipolar world.

Among the class objectives:

Analyze the scientific concept of soft power, theoretical and empirical frameworks through which to interpret it, critiques and limitations

Examine the trajectory of US soft power during the 20th century, examine its key components, constraints, and contradictions

Explore the evolving practice of soft power and increasing competition for influence between the US government and non-state actors, rising foreign powers

Prerequisites

No prerequisites necessary. No pre-semester preparatory work.

Assessment

Group presentation on course-related topic

Critical reading analysis group presentation

Research paper

Readings

Main readings 5

Brzezinski, Zbigniew. “The Receding West (Chapter 1),” Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power, Philadelphia: BasicBooks, 2002.
Fitzpatrick, Kathy R., “U.S. Public Diplomacy in a Post-9/11 World: From Messaging to Mutuality”, USC Center on Public Diplomacy, Los Angeles: Figueroa Press, 2011 (pp 1-21).
Moyer, Jonathan D.; Meisel, Collin J.; Matthews, Austin S.; Bohl, David K.; and Burrows, Mathew J. “China-US Competition: Measuring Global Influence”, Atlantic Council Scowcroft Center, May 2021.
Nye, Jr., Joseph S. “Soft Power,” Foreign Policy, No. 80, Twentieth Anniversary, Autumn, 1990.
Zahran, Geraldo and Ramos, Leonardo. “From Hegemony to Soft Power: Implications of a conceptual change,” Soft Power and US Foreign Policy: Theoretical, Historical, and Contemporary Perspectives (eds. Inderjeet Parmar and Michael Cox), London: Routledge Studies in US Foreign Policy, 2010.

Teaching units

Unit no.	Unit type	Teaching units	Teachers	Number of hours	Credits
13391	Cours séminaire	American Soft Power	Amy Kristin GREENE	24	5

DAFF 25A10 - American Soft Power