October, 2025 | Featuring China's Rise To Power | New Podcast
A Soft Power Strategy By China
Joseph Nye developed his soft power theory to explain how states use non-military forms of power to gain influence. In the 2016 edition of his book, Bound to Lead, first published in 1990, Nye claims that “soft sources of power are becoming more important in world politics today” (Nye 2016, 33). Most states do not seek military power to gain influence because the costs are too great, Nye said. Military aggression creates economic costs because most states are interconnected as part of the global economy, and states will be excluded from the global economy if they use hard power (Nye 2016).
Soft power can include range from economic assistance to other countries to the promotion of culture and values. Daniele Carminati, in her essay, “The State of China’s Soft Power in 2020,” identifies cultural exports as a form of soft power (Carminati 2020). Cultural exports, such as music, film, and television shows, forge a bond between peoples of different countries as they realize that they have more similarities than differences. For example, South Korea and Japan are historical rivals that have both used soft power strategies of cultural exports to each other, resulting in warmer relations between the states (Carminati 2020). However, most of the literature documents soft power strategies of major states such as the United States and China to fall in the economic category (Cho et al. 2008; Hassig 2012; Herr 2019; Li 2011). These policies include:
- Investment in economic development by companies headquartered in the state using soft power (known as foreign direct investment)
- Investment in economic development through government aid (this often occurs in tandem with foreign direct investment by companies)
- Free trade agreements
- Economic assistance during crises
The Liberal Cooption of Militarism: Japan’s Election in 2024
As a result of the LDP’s long-term success, they have become a big-tent party for centrists, primarily the center-right. After the 2022 assassination of the Conservative-leaning Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the recent abdication of his conservative colleague Kishida, the liberal faction inside the party has ascended. Within this political crisis, Ishiba seeks to reform the party from its core.
A Tale of Two Countries Part Two: Thai and Singaporean Water, Wind, and What’s Next?
Although reporting on this topic was unfortunately cut short this Fall, there remains prescient lessons to learn from our two case studies. The assessment is similar to the last article in this series: both countries are not handling the climate crisis well, but Singapore is doing better. As always, it comes down to capital—Singapore has more money to work with on a smaller land area. Thus, they achieve more and faster than Thailand.
Christmas And Its Many Contexts; The Holiday Season In Asia.
Winter is a beauty that I simply do not have enough words in my lexicon to give justice to. Yet, we are not here today to discuss my embrace of the season; instead, I have been tasked with bringing you the many ways Asia celebrates one of the most popular varieties of Winter celebrations—Christmas. One of colonialism's many lasting impacts is the peculiar infusion of certain Christian rituals into former colonial subjects. Most Asian nations have some spin on the holiday .
Entertainment
Asian Dramas Continue to Sweep the Emmys
Shōgun’s record-breaking wins occurred after nearly a decade of production start-ups and failures, and it wasn’t until James Clavell’s novel Shōgun was sent to screenwriter Justin Marks that the series finally had its chance.
Food
Hong Shao Ruo (红烧肉),” or “Red Braised Pork,” is a popular favorite.
When my two decades of living in China slips into conversation—it happens more than you would think—the first question that is often asked is: How? How did you do it for so long? I always respond, “The food!”.
M Magazine
Namaste! Himalayan Handicrafts
Coming February 2025, an amazing day in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. A mountainous utopia with a piece of Asia and the perfect mindfulness retreat.
Learning, Growing, and Thriving: The Power of Faculty and Peer CollaborationEvery apprentice dreams of the day they can finally put their training to the test, when the skills they’ve worked so hard to perfect become second nature. That day when mastery is no longer just an aspiration, but a reality, .
An interdisciplinary debate of the political and economic flashpoints between the US and Asia.
The Monsoon Team
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