Overview

• Joseph Nye, a Harvard scholar and former US policymaker, coined the term 'soft power' in the 1980s, emphasizing influence through attraction rather than coercion.
• Nye's death at age 88 has reignited discussions on the relevance of soft power in modern geopolitics, particularly in light of recent US policies under President Trump.
• As dean of Harvard Kennedy School, Nye expanded its global reach and advised on Singapore’s Speakers’ Corner and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy curriculum.
• He contributed significantly to nuclear arms control during the Carter and Clinton administrations, aiming to prevent major conflict in a post-Cold War world.
• Nye criticized Trump’s reliance on coercive measures, warning that such strategies undermine long-term US influence and global trust.