Whither soft power? Divisions, milestones, and prospects of a research programme in the making

Abstract

The rapid expansion of soft-power scholarship has made its central concept one of the most recognisable terms in the discipline of international relations. Yet the increased attention has brought little agreement on how to resolve the underlying conceptual issues. Instead, soft-power scholarship has drifted apart into two separate streams: concept-driven and case-centred studies. The emerging divide impedes the healthy academic exchange that arguably holds the key to a more resonant impact on the field of international relations. This article seeks to bridge the gap by revealing the common ground where both the unresolved problems and the conceptual and methodological achievements of the nascent research programme have their roots.