Soft Power: Pop Culture, Politics & Global Influence | Office Hours with Professor Tom Le скачать в хорошем качестве

Soft Power: Pop Culture, Politics & Global Influence | Office Hours with Professor Tom Le

In this episode of Office Hours, Tom Le, an associate professor of politics at Pomona College, breaks down the complex world of soft power. While traditional "hard power" relies on military coercion, soft power is the art of attraction—influencing the world through culture, political values, and global brands. From the global phenomenon of K-pop and Hallyu to the daily presence of Nintendo, Apple, and Disney, we explore how the things we consume shape international relations. Is a catchy tune enough to change a country's foreign policy? Probably not—but it might just save a city from destruction or inspire the next generation of global leaders. What You’ll Learn: The Definition: Where the concept of soft power came from and how it differs from military force. Success Stories: Why South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. are leaders in cultural exports. The Limits: Why some countries struggle to turn cultural energy into positive sentiment. The Hard Reality: Why soft power often still depends on a foundation of economic and military strength. About the Speaker: Tom Le is an associate professor of politics at Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he has taught since 2015. He is the co-host of the Prof Talk podcast with Nicholas Ball. His current research focuses on demographics and security, how violence is legitimized in international relations, and developing a cradle-to-grave theory of how states utilize their populations for national security. Le is the author of Japan's Aging Peace: Pacifism and Militarism in the Twenty-First Century (Columbia University Press, 2021), which was translated as 日本 老いと成熟の平和 by Umehara Toshiya (Misuzu Shobo, 2025). Le has written for Foreign Affairs, The Washington Post, and East Asia Forum, among others. His research has been supported by Fulbright, Japan Foundation, Korea Foundation, CION, among others. He’s won the Wig Distinguished Teaching award in 2020 and 2025, chaired the Politics Department (2024-present) and served as the co-coordinator of the Asian Studies Program (2025-present). He started the Women in Global Security fellowship and the Pacific Basin-Pacific Forum internship at Pomona College to create a pathway for undergraduate students interested in security-related careers. 0:00 - Introduction 0:15 - Question 1: What is soft power? 0:51 - Question 2: What are examples of soft power? Which countries currently use soft power effectively? 1:59 - Question 3: How do ordinary people experience soft power in their daily lives? 2:27 - Question 4: Are there limits to soft power? When does it fail to influence international outcomes? 3:23 - Question 5: Is soft power becoming more important than military power in shaping global opinion?