Abstract
This chapter examines the concept of soft power and its use in US foreign policy. Using the Studies of the United States Institutes on Foreign Policy program as a case study, it explores the use of exchange programs to spread democracy around the globe. By allowing participants of this program to experience a democratic society firsthand, the USA is promoting democratic values to future leaders of nondemocratic states. The selection of the countries of origin of the participants is analyzed and compared to the stated priorities of the different administrations that have been in power throughout the program’s duration. It is shown that criteria other than democracy promotion are used for the selection of participant countries and some explanations for this are offered.
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Notes
- 1.
We would like to thank the Department of State for sharing with us the lists of participant states in the SUSI on US Foreign Policy (SUSI-FP).
- 2.
A quote from Bard College’s website about the program in 2015; Bard College was the host. Cfr. Bard College, “U.S. Foreign Policy Summer Institute”, 2015, available online at http://www.bard.edu/civicengagement/usfp/ [accessed September 16, 2015].
- 3.
Cfr. United States Department of State, “Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars”, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Exchange Programs”, available online at http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/study-us-institutes-scholars [accessed September 16, 2015].
- 4.
Joseph S. Nye Jr., Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics, New York, Public Affairs, 2004), p. 5.
- 5.
Matthew Kroenig, et al., “Taking Soft Power Seriously”, Comparative Politics, Vol. 29, No. 5, 2010, pp. 412–431.
- 6.
Carol Atkinson, “Does Soft Power Matter? A Comparative Analysis of Student Exchange Programs” Foreign Policy Analysis, Vol. 6, 2010, pp. 1–22.
- 7.
Matthew Kroenig, et al., Op. Cit., pp. 412–431.
- 8.
Carol Atkinson, Op. Cit., pp. 1–22.
- 9.
We must note that in this case, Africa does not encompass the whole continent, but the countries that are listed as Africa in the website of the Department of State (information available on March 2, 2015).
- 10.
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- 11.
U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Total Oil Supply (Thousand Barrels Per Day)”. Information corresponding to 2013, available online at http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/IEDIndex3.cfm?tid=5&pid=53&aid=1 [accessed February 25, 2015].
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U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Proved Reserves of Natural Gas (Trillion Cubic Feet)”. Information corresponding to 2013, available online at http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/IEDIndex3.cfm?tid=3&pid=3&aid=6 [accessed February 25, 2015].
- 13.
U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Dry Natural Gas Production (Billion Cubic Feet)”. Information corresponding to 2013, available online at http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/IEDIndex3.cfm?tid=3&pid=26%26aid=1 [accessed February 25, 2015].
- 14.
US Navy, “Commander, Navy Installations Command“, US Navy (official website), available online at http://www.cnic.navy.mil/map.html [accessed March 4, 2015]; Wikipedia, “List of United States military bases”, available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_bases [accessed March 4, 2015]; Military Bases, “US Military Bases”, Military Bases.com (website), available online at http://militarybases.com/[accessed March 5, 2015].
- 15.
Freedom House reports (1998–2014). Available online at https://freedomhouse.org/ [accessed March 7, 2015].
- 16.
The Fund For Peace, “The Failed States Index 2013”, The Fund for Peace (website), available online at http://ffp.statesindex.org/rankings-2013-sortable [accessed March 6, 2015].
- 17.
Hillary Clinton, “America’s Pacific Century”, Foreign Policy Magazine, October 11, 2011.
- 18.
Tanja A. Börzel, “The Noble West and the Dirty Rest? Western Democracy Promoters and Illiberal Regional Powers” in Democratization, Vol. 22, No. 3, 2015, pp. 519–535.
- 19.
Steven Finkel, et al., “The Effect of US Foreign Assistance on Democracy Building, 1990–2003”, World Politics, Vol. 59, No. 3, April 2007, pp. 404–438.
- 20.
Tanja A. Börzel, Op. Cit., pp. 519–535.
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Añorve, D.A., Burt, S. (2016). US Soft Power, the Studies of the United States Institutes Program, and Democratization in US Foreign Policy (1998–2014). In: Burt, S., Añorve, D. (eds) Global Perspectives on US Democratization Efforts. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58984-2_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58984-2_2
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