Smart Power

Cuba's Soft Power: Exporting Doctors Rather Than Revolution

Steve Clemons | Posted 11.12.2009 | World


Steve Clemons

I would have encouraged Cuba's foreign minister to say that the embargo was an anachronism of the Cold War, has not achieved the goals the US had for it, and harmed both Cuban and US interests.

A Healthy Argument for Smart Power

Nancy Lindborg | Posted 10.15.2009 | World


Nancy Lindborg

As hyper-partisanship continues to dominate the health care debate in the nation's capital, it might be easy to overlook a bipartisan consensus that has quietly but unmistakably emerged in the foreign policy spectrum.

A Soft Power Opportunity for Iran

Kevin Sullivan | Posted 10.14.2009 | World


Kevin Sullivan

In the neighboring country of Yemen, a very real opportunity to make good on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's promise of friendship is rapidly emerging for Iran.

Americans Want To Save Energy; We're Going To Help Them Make It Happen

Brian Keane | Posted 09.30.2009 | Green


Brian Keane

We've created a website that allows me to plug in information about my home and lifestyle, along with my goal to "lose" $20 off my monthly utility bill, and then find out exactly how to make it happen.

Joe Wilson, You're No Joe Nye

Nancy Snow | Posted 11.11.2009 | Politics


Nancy Snow

I promise you this: If I see Joe Wilson this Thanksgiving, I'll make sure not to shout out or finger point as I reach for the pecan pie.

Zinni Calls on Obama to Release "National Strategy Report" and for US "Smart Power" Functions to be Organized in a New Military Command

Steve Clemons | Posted 10.20.2009 | Politics


Steve Clemons

Zinni's proposals are provocative and substantive. I have asked someone at the Department of State about possibly responding. Hopefully this will happen in the near term.

Korea's Missiles, Obama's Maneuvers and Neocons' Mad-libs

Jonathan Morgenstein | Posted 08.03.2009 | World


Jonathan Morgenstein

In Obama's relations with North Korea, force is an option but a last resort. That is the hallmark of the Smart Power approach: use all the instruments of national power to achieve your goals, not just the military.

People-to-People-Based Foreign Policy

Kenneth Wollack | Posted 05.21.2009 | World


Kenneth Wollack

We can foster connections and exchanges that can build trust, demonstrate our values, and blend people together in a web of relationships that cross borders and cultural divides.

The Flat Thinking of Tom Friedman

Brian Keane | Posted 05.18.2009 | Green


Brian Keane

New York Times Columnist Tom Friedman's 'leaders not light bulbs' notion is worth challenging. Anything we can do to save energy does have true environmental value.

Barack and Slumdog

Nathan Gardels and Mike Medavoy | Posted 03.20.2009 | World


Nathan Gardels and Mike Medavoy

If politics in the information age is about whose story wins, then, given this reality, America's storytellers -- Hollywood -- have a starring role in defining America's presence globally.

Is Hillary Soft Enough to be Smart?

Indra Adnan | Posted 03.14.2009 | Politics


Indra Adnan

Hilary could not then and cannot now afford to promote 'soft power' for fear of appearing weak. 'Smart power', given her own concerns about politics and gender, is the best she can do.

Anybody Know What 'Smart Power' Means?

Lionel Beehner | Posted 02.23.2009 | World


Lionel Beehner

Hand it to Hillary Clinton. She's managed to sum up the bold new direction of US foreign policy into a bumper-friendly catchphrase: smart power. Sufficiently vague, the phrase is remarkable for its meaninglessness.

Smart Power and the New Secretary of State

Kathleen Reardon | Posted 02.22.2009 | Politics


Kathleen Reardon

Smart power in the service of the robust diplomacy Clinton intends to implement is about listening, learning what the other side truly wants and needs rather than reliance on assumptions.

No-Plumbing Disease

John Sauer | Posted 02.21.2009 | World


John Sauer

The most practical investment we can make in global public health is plumbing. If we recognize the illnesses caused by poor plumbing, we will save millions of lives each year.

Soft Power is Obama's Greatest Strength

Indra Adnan | Posted 12.14.2008 | Politics


Indra Adnan

Perhaps all that is needed is a good role model for soft power: someone who seeks to engage rather than stand off, capable of dialogue not just debate.