Whither Soft Power: Divisions, Milestones, and Prospects of a Research Programme in the Making

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of soft-power scholarship has made it one of the most recognisable locutions in the discipline of international relations. Yet the growing attention has not resulted in an increased agreement on how to resolve the persisting issues. Instead, soft-power scholarship has drifted apart into two separate streams: theory-centred and case-centred studies. This divide impedes the healthy academic exchange that arguably holds the key to a more resonant impact on the eld of international relations. This article seeks to bridge the gap by revealing the com- mon ground that nurtures both the unresolved problems and the conceptual and methodological achievements of the nascent research programme.