By Sophia Meyer ’24
The perception of the United States as a net positive influence abroad was recorded at 22% in 2024 by the Democracy Perception Index, a 5% decline from the 27% recorded in 2023. This hit to America’s international reputation has been driven primarily by a decline in opinion from countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Analysts have attributed this waning of support to U.S. support of Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — an intensely divisive topic both domestically and internationally.
The image of America as a heavy-handed, militaristic superpower has been damaging to its efforts to maintain relationships with nations across the globe despite efforts to justify its involvement in security issues overseas. This raises the question of what efforts are we undertaking as a nation to combat our sinking reputation on the global stage? This is where soft power enters the picture.
The concept of soft power is often misunderstood and, in some cases, forgotten. In social, technological, educational, economic and standard of living developments, the United States sets an example that other states desire to emulate. Soft power can be formal or informal, shared through government agencies abroad or through media, contact with Americans abroad, and/or public displays of values and behaviors domestically. The U.S. has one of the most well-developed, formal soft power programs in the world: the Peace Corps.
As a Peace Corps Volunteer, our mission is threefold:
1.) helping interested countries in meeting their need for trained people,
2.) to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served,
3.) to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
This formal institution has historically been one of the most effective manifestations of American soft power, as its entire mission has centered around promoting American values in a positive light while also serving to assist countries in their own development goals.
My job is primarily to serve in a development capacity, but a sizable amount of what I do is promoting U.S. values, ways of life, and an understanding between the U.S. and the nation where I now live. Sharing American values in a positive, constructive way has contributed to a greater positive view of the U.S. in my community and helped dispel myths and stereotypes that prevail. If the United States has such a formalized institution (and has since 1961), why is it not being utilized more to advance a more positive public perception?
The same questions can be asked of less formal approaches to soft power. Nations desire to follow the example of countries that they deem to be setting a positive example, underscoring the importance of a well-established soft power approach. Soft power, with few exceptions, is an excellent means of improving public opinion of the United States and contributes to a healthy partnership between host countries and the US.
Now, this should not be mistaken as advocacy for the elimination of hard power or a reduction in it. Rather, an approach that utilizes hard power and stronger soft power is needed to combat the United States’ sharply sinking public opinion globally.
The U.S. has a vast repertoire of tools that can be used to influence our popularity abroad, and much of it costs comparatively nothing in our overall budget (the Peace Corps costs 0.05% of our annual military expenditures). It also has a positive influence on the public image of the United States. Smart investments in soft power and encouragement of continued support of existing formal and informal programs will be crucial in combating declining opinions of the U.S.
Underestimating and scorning the concept of soft power sets a precedent that we as a nation will struggle to come back from, especially as we throw our support behind actors in conflicts across the globe. Soft power is how we highlight our goodwill and help to strengthen relationships that our military power cannot sustain alone. The future of the United States’ influence is dependent on how we utilize the power of leading by example, not just by the force of arms.
The views expressed by the author in this article do not necessarily represent the views of the United States Peace Corps or the Government of the United States. This is in no way affiliated with either the United States Peace Corps or the Government of the United States.
