What has happened to the United States ability to use soft power? The world knows the United States swings a big stick and uses the military to do most of its diplomacy. But we used to be able to count on Hollywood to be a useful diplomatic tool. New York City and Chicago used to be the cities of the future, with massive high rises, clean streets and technological wonders. Now, they are just any other city. The Marshall Plan proved the United States willingness to move billions of dollars of capital and man power to help rebuild Europe post the war. But now, the United States is losing the battle of soft power. No longer are countries turning the United States for their needs in trade, technology, infrastructure and even diplomacy. Many developing countries have turned to China for these initiatives. Just look at the One Belt One Road initiative, or the recent sit down between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing, which fostered a new relationship. The United States is falling behind when it comes to soft power, but there are many ways to improve upon it.
The United States first needs to start looking towards foreign investment, particularly in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. It is important for the United States to be actively participating in developing countries’ economies, whether that is trade deals, increasing infrastructure projects, sharing technologies or investing in private firms within those countries. The United States needs to show more initiative and play a larger role in the development of the developing world and work with developed partners in those regions.
Immigration can play a significant role in improving the United States soft power. For many years, the United States was seen as the place to go if you wanted to start a new and better life for your family. Whilst it is still one of the sought after destinations, the United Kingdom, China, Germany, Japan, India, France, and Canada have an increased number of migrants entering their countries. The United States needs to expand its permanent residency, and H1-work visas, which will make the United States the most sought out destination like it used to be.
The United States has a reputation for dirty cities filled with crime and horrible public transportation. New York and Chicago are no longer the Utopian cities they once were. Tokyo, Dubai, Shanghai, London, Singapore, Hong Kong are just some of the many cities across the world with incredible public transportation, cleanliness, and high safety. These cities are also Utopia’s to many with how modern and technologically advanced they are. Tokyo is the home of the bullet train, Dubai has the tallest building in the world, Shanghai has the second tallest, and Hong Kong has the most high rises in the world. The United States needs to focus on modernizing, and reimagining our cities. The United States needs to have the best public transportation, the cleanest streets and the safest streets. All cities should continue to build new high rises, and New York must build the tallest building in the world. American soft power is essential to American power and our policy makers need to act now.
Author: Joshua Cheatham
