How can a country increase its SOFT POWER?

Answer 1

By respect. That is what we have lost our ability to exert "Soft Power". We had that before GW Bush, the threat of our military and the fact that we were seen as righteous and on the side of human rights no one could argue with us. We were the good guys. and people trusted us. Now since the lie about WMDs the world no longer believes us on word so we will have to prove our point with our "hard power" the military, which cost more money and lives. The President of the United States word was taken as fact, but after GW Bush we are perceived as usurpers to the title of "Truth, Justice, and the American way"

Edit: Read the Book "Second Chance" by Zbiegniew Brzezinski- It speaks alot about our soft power and why we have lost it.

Answer 2

I read a great article last year by Dr Nye, the Dean of Harvard's School of Govt., on this exact subject and how the Bush administration has, in 5+ years, managed to destroy 80% of our soft power that took decades to accrue.

I found that article in my bookmarks... read it ALL.. I know it is long but it is worth is. You will learn a lot. It also tells you what we need to do to regain our soft power.

"One is the way you frame your policies, which is what you just described. If you frame your policies in a way that's broad, that includes the interests of others, [then] they feel they've been consulted, [and] you are more likely to be seen as legitimate, more likely to get cooperation. But soft power also grows out of your values and ideals, like democracy and human rights, when you live out of them. And it also grows out of your popular culture, everything from Hollywood to Harvard, when it's attractive to others."

http://www.cfr.org/publication/6939/soft_power.html

Answer 3

dont care nerd