Soft power: the forces of attraction in International Relations

A good 30 years after Joseph Nye introduced the concept of soft power into International Relations (IR) theory, Hendrik Ohnesorge presents a detailed and updated account of the concept. Ohnesorge's study advances the discussion through three main contributions: an exhaustive description and understanding of power in IR theory, a new taxonomy of soft power and ways to apply this taxonomy into research. Just like Nye's initial work, Ohnesorge sets the tone for his book by observing the reality of global power shifts, which have become even more apparent over time. Much has been said about the end of the American century, but...