The theorist of the “soft power”, Joseph S. Nye, a great specialist in international relations and eminent political scientist, died at the age of 88, announced Wednesday May 7 Harvard University, where he had long taught.
Mr. Nye, who died on Tuesday, held several high -ranking positions, notably at the US Ministry of Defense under Bill Clinton, and chaired the prestigious Kennedy School of Government in Harvard from 1995 to 2004.
Author of fourteen books and countless articles, he put forward in the 1980s the concept of “soft power”. He refers to a diplomacy of influence or attraction as opposed to a coercion policy. “The” soft power “, that is to say, bringing others to want the results you want, allows you to coopte people rather than forcing them”he wrote in a book published in 2004 on the subject.
Severe judgment on Donald Trump
Recently questioned by the Agency France-Presse (AFP), Joseph S. Nye had made a severe judgment on Donald Trump, who since his return to power, in January, has set out to unravel the American “soft power”, with customs duties and with the dismantling, for example, of the American agency for international development (USAID).
“Trump doesn’t really understand power. He only thinks in terms of coercion and payment ”he declared in an email sent to AFP in February. Gold, “Our success in the past eight decades has also been based on attractiveness”he added. “The American soft power has experienced cycles in the past”he continued, citing in particular the unpopularity of the United States during the Vietnam War. “We will probably recover after Trump, but he damaged confidence in the United States”concluded the specialist.