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Soft Power

All articles tagged with #soft power

Qatar’s Quiet Architect: How a Small Nation Became a Global Power Broker
world1 month ago

Qatar’s Quiet Architect: How a Small Nation Became a Global Power Broker

The late Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani transformed Qatar from a tiny Gulf state into a regional influencer by investing in education, health, research, sports, and energy; forging Al Jazeera into a dominant media platform; and deploying patient diplomacy across Lebanon, Darfur, Hamas–Fatah, Yemen, and Somalia while hosting U.S. forces at Al Udeid and backing Gaza reconstruction, laying the groundwork for Qatar’s enduring soft power before stepping down in 2013.

via Al Jazeera|
#al-jazeera#diplomacy#foreign-policy
Global Image in Flux: Switzerland and Canada Lead Public Opinion as the U.S. Slips
world2 months ago

Global Image in Flux: Switzerland and Canada Lead Public Opinion as the U.S. Slips

Public opinion data from the Democracy Perception Index 2026 ranks 65 countries by net perception, with Switzerland and Canada at +36 and the United States at -16, Israel at -24, and Europe dominating the top ranks; a separate Gallup-based survey of 45 countries shows Israel and Nigeria at 83% favorable views of America, while nine of the ten lowest favors come from Western allies, underscoring shifting global views and the importance of soft power.

via Visual Capitalist|
#democracy-perception-index#gallup#global-perception
world2 months ago

World Cup 2026: Soft Power and Security Take Center Stage

World Cup 2026 coverage depicts the tournament as a global diplomacy stage, with nations using the event to showcase soft power, promote tourism, and coordinate security. Highlights include New Zealand’s LA-based diplomatic push, Iran’s travel restrictions, Spain’s tensions with Trump over Iran and geopolitical issues, Japan’s embassy watch-party for cultural outreach, Croatia’s tourism and celebrity-backed branding, and Curaçao’s inclusion in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The U.S. relies on a sprawling network of command centers from New York to Arlington to manage security, while visa decisions and local costs spur debates about the tournament’s broader impact.

via Politico|
#diplomacy#soft-power#visas
US tourism slump signals soft-power setback amid political divisions
world3 months ago

US tourism slump signals soft-power setback amid political divisions

International tourism to the United States fell by about 4 million in 2025, cutting more than $8 billion in spending as presidential rhetoric and policy confusion fed a perception of dysfunction; the drop was driven largely by Canadians, with a slow recovery expected, and experts warn it weakens US soft power. Recovery to pre-pandemic levels isn’t seen until 2029 unless Brand USA is funded and messaging is stabilized.

via CNN|
#brand-usa#international-travel#soft-power
China’s Window to Shape a Post-Trump World Slips
geopolitics3 months ago

China’s Window to Shape a Post-Trump World Slips

Shambaugh and Jackson argue that Trump’s 2025 return has created a global strategic vacuum for Beijing to fill, but China’s gains remain uneven across regions. It commands broad diplomatic reach and massive economic leverage, yet lacks durable alliances and a universally appealing model, leaving many countries hedging their bets between Washington and Beijing. Europe remains wary, Africa and Latin America show both opportunity and pushback over neocolonial perceptions, and Southeast Asia is cautious despite strong trade ties. Even with a potential Xi–Trump summit, a decisive shift in global power is unlikely; the world looks more multipolar and characterized by hedging than a clean U.S.–China bipolar order.

via Foreign Affairs|
#china#diplomacy#geopolitics
Ask Jeeves Fades, Signaling Britain’s Soft-Power Decline
world3 months ago

Ask Jeeves Fades, Signaling Britain’s Soft-Power Decline

The shuttering of Ask.com, once powered by the Jeeves persona, is depicted as a symbol of Britain’s waning cultural influence; the article notes howAsk Jeeves’ nostalgic appeal reflects a world where Englishness and class-based imagery no longer anchor tech brands, and argues that the UK’s political and military clout has diminished since the 1990s, complicating the transatlantic relationship as global audiences shift toward zero-context, language-model driven platforms.

via UnHerd|
#ask-jeeves#askcom#soft-power
Saudi Arabia’s Hollywood Gambit: Billions, Soft Power, and Global Influence
business4 months ago

Saudi Arabia’s Hollywood Gambit: Billions, Soft Power, and Global Influence

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and other Gulf wealth are pouring billions into Hollywood—including roughly $12 billion of a $24 billion Paramount-Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery investment—to gain IP access, shore up Washington influence, and build a domestic entertainment engine, while pursuing other deals like EA. The strategy aims at soft power and economic diversification, but faces governance questions, cost overruns, and geopolitical risks that could affect execution and regional stability.

via The Hollywood Reporter|
#business#hollywood#paramount-warners-merger
Gulf Money Fuels Hollywood Megadeal, Sparking Soft-Power Debate
business5 months ago

Gulf Money Fuels Hollywood Megadeal, Sparking Soft-Power Debate

Paramount Global's planned $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery is backed by $24 billion from Gulf sovereign funds (Saudi PIF, Abu Dhabi’s L’imad, and Qatar Investment Authority), a move that signals Gulf states’ aim to diversify and expand influence in global media. While officials say investors won’t gain governance rights, analysts warn the scale could still translate into influence over strategy and editorial decisions for properties like CNN and HBO, prompting regulatory and geopolitical scrutiny as Hollywood’s landscape shifts.

via Variety|
#business#gulf-sovereign-funds#media-independence
Chinamaxxing: Western youth chase Chinese aesthetics as Beijing flexes soft power
world6 months ago

Chinamaxxing: Western youth chase Chinese aesthetics as Beijing flexes soft power

The piece analyzes the viral trend of “Chinamaxxing,” where Western youths imitate Chinese routines, fashion, and tech, viewing China as increasingly cool. Experts say it reflects growing curiosity about China amid geopolitical tensions, a shift in American perception, and broader exposure via social media, though it may be more about aesthetics and curiosity than lasting political change.

via CNN|
#chinamaxxing#cultural-exchange#soft-power
Saudi Arabia Gains Soft Power Through $55 Billion EA Acquisition
world10 months ago

Saudi Arabia Gains Soft Power Through $55 Billion EA Acquisition

Saudi Arabia, through a consortium including the Public Investment Fund and brokered by Jared Kushner, has acquired Electronic Arts for $55 billion, marking a significant cultural and geopolitical move to expand its soft power via investments in sports, entertainment, and gaming, amidst ongoing debates about ethics and influence in global culture.

via The Ringer|
#ea-acquisition#gaming-industry#geopolitics