Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What is soft power?
This explainer video introduces the concept coined by @harvard Professor Joseph S. Nye Jr. — the idea that nations can shape global outcomes not only through military or economic might, but also through culture, values, and ideas.
Produced by the @BelferCenter for Science and International Affairs at @HarvardKennedySchool, this short video defines the term, traces its origins, and provides clear examples of how it works in practice.
Soft power has become a central concept in international relations, diplomacy, and media, used by educators, journalists, and policymakers around the world.
In this video, you’ll learn:
- The definition of soft power
- Its origins and why Joseph Nye introduced the idea
- How soft power differs from hard power
- Real-world examples of soft power in action
- Why it matters for understanding today’s global politics
About the Belfer Center:
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School is a world leader in research on international security, diplomacy, and global policy. It is the intellectual home of the concept of soft power, first introduced by Joseph Nye.
CREDITS
Photography licensed from the AP, Envato, and Unsplash, or in the public domain. The image
"Women's March on Washington" is licensed under Creative Commons 2.0 and attributed to:
Mobilus In Mobili.
Archival and stock footage licensed from iStock, Pond5, and Envato.
Music licensed from Premium Beat.
Voiceover by Jason Douglas Jones.
Concept of Soft Power by Joseph S. Nye, Jr., from the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University,
as part of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
What is soft power?
This explainer video introduces the concept coined by @harvard Professor Joseph S. Nye Jr. — the idea that nations can shape global outcomes not only through military or economic might, but also through culture, values, and ideas.
Produced by the @BelferCenter for Science and International Affairs at @HarvardKennedySchool, this short video defines the term, traces its origins, and provides clear examples of how it works in practice.
Soft power has become a central concept in international relations, diplomacy, and media, used by educators, journalists, and policymakers around the world.
In this video, you’ll learn:
- The definition of soft power
- Its origins and why Joseph Nye introduced the idea
- How soft power differs from hard power
- Real-world examples of soft power in action
- Why it matters for understanding today’s global politics
About the Belfer Center:
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School is a world leader in research on international security, diplomacy, and global policy. It is the intellectual home of the concept of soft power, first introduced by Joseph Nye.
CREDITS
Photography licensed from the AP, Envato, and Unsplash, or in the public domain. The image
"Women's March on Washington" is licensed under Creative Commons 2.0 and attributed to:
Mobilus In Mobili.
Archival and stock footage licensed from iStock, Pond5, and Envato.
Music licensed from Premium Beat.
Voiceover by Jason Douglas Jones.
Concept of Soft Power by Joseph S. Nye, Jr., from the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University,
as part of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
