Soft Power
Soft power is the ability to influence others through cultural attraction, political values, ideology, and reputation rather than coercion. Nations with soft power can get others to want what they want without explicit force or threats.
Real World
South Korea's global cultural exports — known as the 'Korean Wave' or Hallyu — including K-pop acts like BTS and films like Parasite (2020 Oscar winner) have significantly raised South Korea's international profile and tourist revenue, a textbook soft power success.
Exam Focus
Soft power questions often ask you to 'compare' — always contrast it explicitly with hard power coercion to show your understanding of the distinction.
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