Smart Power Blog

Jefferson on Soft Power

Sun, 27 May 2007 11:55:58 -0800

From Harper's Magazine: Not in [my] day, but at no distant one, we may shake a rod over the heads of all which may make the stoutest of them tremble. But I hope our wisdom will grow with our power...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

Is Machiavelli's Prince a model of Smart Power

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:24:34 -0800

Cross-posted at MountainRunner, the following book review suggests looking at the largely forgotten Arab equivalent of Machiavelli, a Sicilian Arab named Muhammad ibn Zafar al-Siqilli. Ibn Zafar...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

Language

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:28:33 -0800

I suggest you read Shakespeare and the Art of Reputation Management from Hill & Knowlton's blog. Hill & Knowlton, for those who don't know, helped Kuwait strengthen the drumbeat for...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

Discussing War Powers

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 23:34:48 -0800

The Council on Foreign Relations issued a backgrounder on American civil-military relations. No, I'm sorry, that's not what the backgrounder purports to be about, although it should. Robert McMahon...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

Smart Power Project website

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 02:13:46 -0800

Visit the new parent website for this blog: the Smart Power Project.

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

The Smart Power FAQ

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 01:30:12 -0800

The Smart Power FAQ (frequently asked questions) is online here. We encourage you to comment on the FAQ by posting a reply to this blog entry. We look forward to your comments.

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

The Wisdom of the Hammer

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:13:54 -0800

Not-so-smart power hall of famer Tom Delay�??s appearance on Sunday�??s Meet the Press garnered a lot of attention from the liberal blogosphere this week (I must say that Mr. Russert�??s stock...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

Bolton on Daily Show

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 23:08:51 -0800

I saw this interview between of John Bolton by Jon Stewart from Tuesday's (or maybe Monday's) Daily Show. It was interesting as they really debated how much power the Pres. should have over the...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

Darfur -- What Tools to Use?

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:52:07 -0800

I saw this in today's (3/13/07) NY Times (see text pasted in the extended body below -- NYT doesn't allow permanent links to its Timeselect content, presumably because of their deep committment to...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

Let's Look in the ToolBox

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 17:20:55 -0800

Rather than an extended narration I'd like this entry to serve as a touchstone for discussion on the different implements of power. I want to focus specifically on what they do "well" and what how...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

No Military Solution

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:54:35 -0800

The new commander of U.S. forces in Iraq gave his first news conference the other day and said that military force alone is "not sufficient" to end the violence in Iraq. He said that political...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

Civil-Military Relations

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:33:23 -0800

The importance of understanding and establishing "proper" civil-military relations can't be understated both at home and in the troubled regions. The relationship between civilian and military...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

One from Column A, One from Column B....

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 20:16:16 -0800

Heard this on "Marketplace" while driving today: "Beijing's announcement that it's increasing military spending got some attention in Washington. Commentator Robert Reich explains that's just what...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

Public Diplomacy by a (big D) Democrat

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:24:50 -0800

McClatchy News Service ran a great story in the Minneapolis paper yesterday on Congressman Keith Ellison's participation in a number of public diplomacy initiatives by the Bush State Department....

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]

Hey Guys - Can We Just Talk About This?

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:57:29 -0800

Finally, in a situation desperate for some good news - we finally got some. In the middle of what has become an annual hike to the Hill to ask for more money for Iraq, Secretary of State Rice dropped...

[Visit the website for the rest of the analysis or commentary]