This paper examines Maria Repnikova's 2022 Foreign Affairs article on the soft power rivalry between the United States and China. Drawing on Repnikova's realist theoretical framework, the paper explores how both nations deploy public diplomacy, media infiltration, cultural exchange, and economic initiatives to shape international opinion and advance foreign policy objectives. The analysis covers the key actors involved—from state institutions to individual citizens—and the global implications of this competition. The paper concludes with recommendations for strengthening communication, fostering cultural cooperation, and encouraging multilateral frameworks to manage the tensions arising from this ongoing contest for hearts and minds.
The global issue raised in the article by Repnikova (2022) is how governments use soft power to control for outcomes that are favorable to their intentions. The article shows that China and the US are two of the most powerful countries in the world, and both are known to use soft power to strengthen their standing on the global stage. It defines soft power as a form of influence that seeks to win over other actors in the international system rather than compel them through hard, coercive tactics. It notes that soft power, a term coined by political scientist Joseph Nye, is "not merely complementary to hard power but indispensable to it" — and reference is made to the "disastrous US war in Iraq" to show why hard power alone is not sufficient for stable foreign policy.
The overall aim of the article is to show that all countries use soft power, and that America and China are engaged in a soft power contest to win hearts and minds — that is, to get the citizens of their respective friendly-foes to see things their way. This is evident in the fact that the US tries to spread pro-Western influence through media and films in China, and in the fact that China bans certain films carrying themes the Chinese government sees as detrimental to its own aims. It can also be seen in the way China attempts to exert influence on US sports leagues like the NBA by suppressing political commentary from owners and players that might reflect negatively on China's internal affairs.
The main argument made by Repnikova (2022) is that both the US and China struggle to understand, in a consistent manner, what soft power actually means and how it should be implemented. Repnikova takes into account global trends and strategies employed by both countries regarding their uses of public diplomacy, information dissemination, international media engagement, cultural exchanges, and more. Ultimately, what emerges from her research is that although both America and China are attempting to engage in a rivalry for soft power supremacy on a global scale, neither has fully grasped the concept.
Repnikova uses a realist theoretical perspective in her article, and she effectively draws on empirical evidence from the international geopolitical arena to substantiate her claims. To illustrate her point that countries channel soft power via public diplomacy initiatives, she cites examples such as the US inauguration of TV Martí to broadcast news and entertainment into Cuba, as well as China's recent use of television programming aimed at raising awareness of traditional Chinese culture abroad. Repnikova clearly demonstrates that when states perceive a need to further their interests or position themselves advantageously on the international stage, they rely on soft power tactics informed by a realist perspective.
Repnikova effectively argues that successful foreign policy needs to incorporate both soft and hard power. Using the US–Iraq war post-9/11 as an example, she illustrates how the exclusive use of hard power can lead to disastrous consequences. She also reveals how media infiltration forms a crucial part of employing effective soft power strategies overseas — strategies that are fundamental for building positive international relationships. Her analysis highlights the appeal of soft power tactics over traditional hard power models when it comes to influencing foreign nations' opinions.
The main actors in this contest are China and the United States. Repnikova shows how they are two of the most influential and active participants in the international system, and how they wield soft power is an issue of considerable significance. At the individual level, citizens of each country can exert personal influence by building bridges of understanding through cultural exchange or travel, connecting people to people rather than governments to governments. Domestically, each nation has its own unique set of tools to shape public opinion in other countries by providing information and communication technologies that enable the pursuit of interests abroad. Finally, at a systemic or global level, China and the US also hold significant influence as members of important international organizations such as the United Nations Security Council, or as regional powers in areas like Southeast Asia. Their respective approaches to using soft power therefore have serious implications for all actors on the global stage.
The impact of their respective uses of soft power has been felt by all types of actors, both large and small, from states to individuals. One example is China's Belt and Road Initiative, which has drawn several states into partnerships with Beijing while simultaneously straining their relationships with Washington. On a more individual level, scores of people have had their lives — knowingly or not — influenced by Chinese aid and investments around the globe. One such example is former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, who stated that his government had taken advantage of Chinese funds for healthcare and infrastructure initiatives. These examples demonstrate how China's and the US's utilization of soft power affects various actors across the international system.
"Policy steps for cooperation and cultural exchange"
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