A Review On Soft Power In International Relations Studies

Change is the central theme of the world. After the WWâ…¡, especially the closing of the Cold War, there emerges a new trend in the research on the international relations, that is, the culture-centered theory research which have draw world-wide scholars' attention. The most influential theories include soft power, the clash of civilizations, the end of history, Democratic peace theory and Culture Globalization, etc. The emergence and development of these theories is the reflection of the special environment era of the post-Cold War, and it is also the inexorable tendency of social development which predicts the new orientation of the international relation.The thesis aims to analysis the reason, development and the substance of the soft power on the basis of recent years' hot issues in international studies so as to seek for the fundamental spirit, I mean, the human requirement which decides the change of the international studies. The emergence of theory research in international studies concerning the culture, with the representative of the soft power, is the new development of the idealistic theory in this field. However, such research method doesn't touch the core of the problem, so it also aroused widely doubt and objection of the scholars around the world. The thesis holds that the human requirement is the fundamental spirit which decides the tendency of the international relations on the basis of criticizing the soft power so as to construct the future research in this field.In order to clarify my views, I'd like to give you a brief introduction of the structure of my thesis:The first chapter mainly introduces Joseph Nye's research on the soft power, then it discusses the relevant concepts of the soft power, such as culture and civilization, and comparing their differences and similarities. Finally, it explains the reason of the emergence of the soft power in the international community.The second chapter researches on the culture phenomenon in the theories of international relations, mainly including several influential theories, such as the clash of civilizations, Democratic peace theory and the end of history, etc. Those theories all adopt themselves very well to the current tendency as their substances are the new development of the idealistic theory.The third chapter is the focal point of the thesis. First it defines the meaning of human demand and human power. Then it explores some influential factors in international relations from the angle of human requirement. It also point out the defects of the soft power and any other theory in international relations. Finally it discusses the curb effect of the nationalism on human power so as to establish the relations between them.The fourth chapter discusses an important question of human power's effect on Chinese diplomacy and seeks for the ideal model for it so as to safeguard its national interest which also the starting point and purpose of the thesis.