Had a very interesting couple of conversations this weekend with a couple of very smart Marine officers about SMART POWER.
Both had good insights about how to think about Smart Power. Both were very encouraging about pursuing the Holy Grail of Smart Power. They said it’s a very worthwhile endeavor, and both agreed to give it some thot and give us some additional suggestions.
Here's one excellent analogy.
The military has a doctrine and training concept called ‘combined arms’. It’s a framework for helping officers figure out how to combine different kinds of firepower. The question: ‘Under particular circumstances, to achieve a particular military objective, what is the ‘best’ mix of small arms fire, mortar fire, SCUDs, etc.?
The analogy would be, “Under particular circumstances, to achieve a particular SOFT POWER objective, what is the best mix of broadcasting, exchanges, diplomatic demarches, working through NGOs, etc.”
According to one of these gentlemen, the subject of mixing hard power and soft power is touched on in the military academies, and in National Defense University, but only on the surface. Officers are given a basic introduction to soft power, but not in detail nor with the objective of indicating decision rules for combining military and non-military to create SMART power.
I suspect the same is true for diplomats at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), in reverse. They teach a little about military and ‘pol-mil’ relations, but not in detail and not with an eye toward combining the two.
Another point we discussed is how the possession of clear military assets would amplify the influence of what you say and do with your soft power resources.
Also talked about cases that would indicate successful or unsuccessful combinations of hard and soft power. Remember when the Clinton administration sent in a small contingent of Marines (I think Marines) into Haiti, landing at the beach with the aim of …intimidating the regime in power to stop its repression? There was a of public rhetoric leading into the operation, but then not backed up with hard power. It was a failure, and the administration looked weak and inept when the troops had to return to the landing craft and head back home.
What about the expansion of NATO into east and central Europe? A visible campaign led by a political appointee Jeremy Rosner, working jointly for the Secretary fo State and the President, it was an effort to use soft power to extend hard power’s influence closer to the doorstep of the former Soviet Union. These might make interesting case studies.
Comments (2)
"Combined Arms" is a fine framework, but I'd suggest it's too loaded with baggage and implications of a moment of action usually used for offensive actions. The required mix for successful Smart Power is dynamic, not constrained to a "moment", but to ongoing activity.
As far as published work is concerned, this book might provide an example of Smart Power. Further, the staffing problem could be addressed through the Civil Reserve Corps structure.
Posted by MountainRunner![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://smartpowerblog.org/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 31, 2007 3:58 PM
Posted on January 31, 2007 15:58
Here is my conversation with business people. There were some investors (Arab) from the ME who were looking to buy retail food industry franchisees and take it to various parts of the ME. Course, instead of being a gracious host and shutting up, I am all political and want to know what is going there and what they think. Much to my surprise, they like talking to me about ‘stuff’. Surprisingly, even while the 30+ day war between Israel and Lebanon was going on, the other Arab states were competing to invest there. They knew it would be ruined, money would be ‘doled out’ and there would be magnificent opportunities for investment. Guess who gave the most? Saudi Arabia and the US – co-owners of Carlisle, one of the fastest growing construction (among other things) companies in the ME the stocks of which are going through the roof.
The estate of Hrari doubled after he was assassinated. Go figure!
This is the example of one country in the past 2 years. What scared me was that they were insisting on having the ‘rights’ to Iran. They argued that Iran has the most middle class in the region, but frankly, right now, with the way things are, the under/unemployment, inflation, etc, who wants to buy Mrs. Fields Famous Brands – unless the scenario is the same as Lebanon and Iraq.
So smart power has to start with having the right people in the right place. It is attacking in defense, not for the sake of wanting another’s resources. Until we come to terms with this mindset, smart power and soft power are going to be effective propaganda tools to justify war – “you are with us or against us” since we are ‘the nice guys’ and not ‘evil’, be with us or we will attack you sort of thing. The role of exchange, media, etc. will be used just for that, and naught else. ‘Sneak power’ could not have been more accurate.
Posted by SU | January 31, 2007 4:01 PM
Posted on January 31, 2007 16:01