Jr. Polity

Aug 19, 2024 | foreignaffairs.com | Joseph Nye |G. John Ikenberry |David Lake |Jr. Polity

In This Review In This Review A Life in the American CenturyNye is best known for his theory of “soft power,” which explains why a country’s ideas, institutions, and habits of cooperation can be as important in shaping the behavior of other states as the use of “hard power,” such as military force, threats, and sanctions. In this deft memoir, Nye shows how his experiences in academia and policymaking illuminate the inner workings of American power—both hard and soft.