The concept of «soft power» in the context of strategy of foreign policy of Ukraine

• Main Author: D. S. Korotkov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Publishing House "Grani" 2015-02-01
• Series: Granì
• Subjects: сила; «м’яка сила»; «жорстка сила»; міжнародні відносини; політичні цінності; демократія; громадянське суспільство
• Online Access: https://grani.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/155

This article explores the basic principles and conceptual approaches to the concept of «power». Modern globalizational processes in the world (political, economic) influence the emergence of new concepts of power. The basic theoretical concepts of international relations ­ «hard power» and «soft power» and the possibility of using them in  ukrainian foreign policy are under consideration. The causes of emergence of the «soft power» concept is studied in the article. Among the mentioned causes we examine the end of «Cold War» and formation of multipolar international system. It brings us to the changes of the nature of the power itself and makes the strategy of «soft power» more potential. The attention is drawn to the relevance of the essence of the «soft power» concept and possibility of its usage in  ukrainian foreign policy, in its political scientific discussions. The annexation of the Crimea in 2014 and the military conflict with Russia influenced the future implementation of this concept. The potential of the «soft power» concept in Ukraine is already exhausted. The «Orange Revolution» in 2004 and «Revolution of Dignity» in 2014 are the symbolic events of modern Ukraine and the main tools of the «soft power». These events formed a positive image of Ukraine in Europe. It is necessary to restrict (financially and informationally) the usage of this concept and give priority to the «hard power». Concept of «soft power» is only effective in the countries with significant military and economic potential. The events in Ukraine show that in order to ensure its national security for the ‘second­tier’ states the development of its own military force should be on a priority basis.