‘Soft power’ is a flawed tool in foreign policy, but a valuable form of global leadership

Soft power has been embraced by much of the world as an effective tool of foreign policy. David Ellwood traces its history and current use arguing that while its basic definition has not changed since it was coined by Joseph Nye, it now has different implications. He cautions that soft power is a flawed foreign policy tool, but is a valuable means for a state to define itself as a global leader.