New Publication by BIGSSS PhD Fellow Ivan Bakalov › view all

BIGSSS-departs PhD Fellow Ivan Bakalov published a new article on "Whither Soft Power? Divisions, Milestones, and Prospects of a Research Programme in the Making". The article was published in the Journal of Political Power.

Access the article "Whither Soft Power?" through the journal's website.

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 not spurred the resolution of the underlying conceptual issues. Instead, soft-power scholarship has drifted into separate streams: concept-driven and case-centred studies. The emerging divide impedes the healthy exchange that 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 achievements of the nascent research programme have their roots.