Selected Topics in International Relations: International Relations and Soft Power in the Asia-Pacific

Semester
Spring 2022
Units
4
Section
1
Number
123P
CCN
32402
Times
Tu/Th 8-9:30am
Location
SOCS126
Course Description

Soft power has become increasingly relevant in contemporary international politics, as
conventional emphasis on hard power has made way for novel and innovative methods of
influence. Coupled with globalization and technological advancements, soft power has become
the “new currency,” the “new standard,” the “new weapon,” and even the “new hard power.” In
this course, we situate the study of soft power in the Asia-Pacific, where state and non-state
actors are both actively and unintentionally building soft power through the promotion of
academic exchanges, the spread of religion, the growth of grassroots movements and the
explosion of popular culture, to name a few. We seek to examine both the shaping and
strengthening of soft power by actors in the Asia-Pacific as well as the political outcomes and
implications that soft power induces on the relations in the region. We begin with theoretical
examinations, browse through the history of relations in the Asia-Pacific, dive into each thematic
focus of soft power, and conclude by evaluating the implications for international relations as
well as our own society.

 

Instructor: Sarah Lee