Comments on: United States still the power to reckon with in Asia http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2008/07/28/united-states-still-the-power-to-reckon-with-in-asia/ Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:50:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Peter Drysdalehttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2008/07/28/united-states-still-the-power-to-reckon-with-in-asia/comment-page-1/#comment-132 Peter Drysdale Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:18:43 +0000 http://eastasiaforum.wordpress.com/?p=402#comment-132 Which way, up or down? The argument is that America's Middle Eastern adventures -- successful through the application of pre-eminent, if overstretched, hard power -- have seen the corrosion of America's soft power. The evidence is not there yet. And the question is whether this is just a lag on the way down or a structural phenomenon. In an era of ultimate hard power it is not so clear a priori what the relationship between soft and hard power is (witness Japan). Yes, you could argue that hard power conquers all, as did the Soviet leadership in persuading itself that there were no internal contradictions in that strategy not so long ago! Which way, up or down? The argument is that America’s Middle Eastern adventures — successful through the application of pre-eminent, if overstretched, hard power — have seen the corrosion of America’s soft power.

The evidence is not there yet. And the question is whether this is just a lag on the way down or a structural phenomenon.

In an era of ultimate hard power it is not so clear a priori what the relationship between soft and hard power is (witness Japan).

Yes, you could argue that hard power conquers all, as did the Soviet leadership in persuading itself that there were no internal contradictions in that strategy not so long ago!

]]> By: Ryan Manuelhttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2008/07/28/united-states-still-the-power-to-reckon-with-in-asia/comment-page-1/#comment-133 Ryan Manuel Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:34:03 +0000 http://eastasiaforum.wordpress.com/?p=402#comment-133 Soft power surely lags hard power though. It is rare that you have a country which has soft power before it has considerable economic and military power (France?). One could argue that if China is to knock the US off the top slot for soft power, they should just concentrate on knocking them off the top spot in economic and military power and then the rest will come naturally. Soft power surely lags hard power though. It is rare that you have a country which has soft power before it has considerable economic and military power (France?).

One could argue that if China is to knock the US off the top slot for soft power, they should just concentrate on knocking them off the top spot in economic and military power and then the rest will come naturally.

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