Soft Power In International Relations

1. Conclusion and Recommendation
1.1. Conclusion
It is almost impossible not to discuss power in International Relations (IR). As the concept is one of the central discussions in IR, a different point of view in looking at power is inevitable, particularly from a different IR paradigm. As a consequence, defining the concept of power is sometimes challenging and to some extent difficult. With the purpose of advancing the research on power and to discuss a particular case study to be further implemented in the existing theory, this thesis is interested in looking at soft power discourse in IR. In the attempt to do it, the methodology that is used in this research is “The Disciplined Interpretive Case Study” (Odell, 2001, p. 163).
Beginning with

Although it is impossible to identify a single definition of "soft power", from Nye (1990) to Kurlantzick (2007) the central point is the same, that is: "the ability to get someone to do what you want". However, the difference lies in the means, behaviors and outcomes. As a narrow concept, as long as there is no military power and no use of force, it could be regarded as soft power. This opens up the possibility to expand the resources of soft power. In fact, the evidence shows us that the concept has developed from time to time. This chapter also discusses how to define China's soft power, starting with looking at China's characteristics in exerting its soft power policy. In the end, China appears to define its own characteristics of soft power, posing a definition quite different from what Nye initially intended. In this regard, soft power for China is an important concept especially after the country realized that its growing power both in its economy and military was seen as a threat to other countries. China realizes that in order to counter this negative perception, soft power is inevitably needed. As Chinese leaders focus on how to formulate soft power as part of its foreign policy, China has allocated a great deal of money to expand its soft power around the world. Not only to create the so-called "public image", China's soft power is also aimed at "engagement" with other regions. One important characteristic is that China is using "money" as one of its tools. Based on that explanation, the answer to "what is China's soft power?" is China's ability to use economic resources to get its interest or in other words: "the ability to get what we want through economic means without using security and military" as mentioned in table