Is Health Care America’s New ‘Soft Power’ ?
by Fred Fortin
The press has been chewing lately on China’s ’soft power’ foreign policy. The term ’soft power’ was originally coined by Harvard’s Joseph Nye and refers to the “ability to shape the preferences of others . . . leading by example and attracting others to do what you want.” It has become a common reference in international relations especially when used in contrast to ‘hard power’ (military might).
Joshua Kurlantzick’s book Charm Offensive: How China’s Soft Power is Transforming the World, expands on the concept. He describes China’s various ‘ soft power’ foreign policy initiatives designed to grow the country’s political and economic sphere of influence using the “gravitational pull” of its new economic strength.
What’s sad about Kurlantzick’s account is the sorry story he tells of the U.S.’s dramatic decline in soft power around the world. He spells out a number of reasons for this decline that say both good things (emphasis on human rights) and bad things (Iraq War, Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty etc. ) about America’s status in world affairs.
Kurlantzick calls for the U.S. to change its ways and engage in a renewed, multifaceted public diplomacy effort to rebuild its soft power. Part of a new public diplomacy, he argues, should involve changing the nature of foreign aid to developing countries so that it’s more relevant to recipient nations and reflects America’s strengths. And one suggestion he proffers is to leverage our skills in combating disease.
Kurlantzick fails in his book to pursue this theme much further. But it doesn’t take much thought to appreciate the value of his argument. The U.S. does have a important capability in health care that it can bring to the world’s doorstep. We can also see that the potential public and private contribution that the U.S. can offer to health care development in these nations is huge and goes well beyond basic disease prevention.
So can a focused, global health care aid policy, one that reflects our best values, as well as our science, technical and innovation skills, help in repairing America’s image in the world? Maybe it’s time to find out.
