Russian Soft Power And Hard Power

Russian Soft Power Hard Power

In the chapter titled “Russian Soft Power: Hard Power in a Velvet Glove” from Marcel H. Van Herpen’s book Putin’s Propaganda Machine: Soft Power and Russian Foreign Policy, the author explores the dual approach Russia employs in its foreign policy, which combines soft and hard power strategies. Van Herpen asserts that Russia’s use of soft power is often intertwined with its traditional military and political strength, creating a hybrid form of influence that the author describes as “hard power in a velvet glove.” The chapter aims to analyze how Russia projects its influence globally by blending cultural, informational, and diplomatic tools with coercive measures, thus shaping perceptions and securing strategic interests worldwide.

Body Paragraphs

The chapter begins by defining soft power as a form of influence that relies on attraction rather than coercion, emphasizing Russia’s use of cultural diplomacy, media, and language to foster positive perceptions abroad. Van Herpen states that Russia’s cultural diplomacy, including the promotion of Russian language and culture through institutions such as the Russian World Foundation, maximizes its appeal in countries of strategic interest, especially in post-Soviet states and parts of Africa and Asia. However, the author emphasizes that soft power cannot function in isolation; it is often backed by hard power mechanisms such as military intervention, cyber operations, and the use of intelligence agencies.

Van Herpen asserts that Russia’s approach involves a strategic blend where soft power serves as the initial entry point to influence perceptions, which is then reinforced by hard power tactics when needed. An example provided is Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, where diplomatic and informational campaigns attempted to shape regional narratives, while military action eventually confirmed its hard power capabilities. The chapter also discusses Russia’s sophisticated use of state-controlled media, such as RT, to disseminate narratives favorable to Russian interests globally, thereby shaping international opinion and perceptions of Russia as a powerful and resilient nation.

The author highlights the importance of “hybrid warfare,” a concept where Russia uses a combination of cyberattacks, disinformation, and covert military operations to destabilize adversaries and influence their governments. Van Herpen states that this strategy allows Russia to project force without overt military escalation, thereby maintaining plausible deniability and reducing the risk of direct confrontation. An illustrative case discussed is Russia’s disinformation campaigns during elections in Western democracies, aimed at sowing discord and undermining confidence in liberal institutions.

The chapter also examines the role of Russian propaganda, which Van Herpen describes as a tool that reinforces soft power by shaping narratives to favor Russian foreign policy objectives. The use of media, social platforms, and strategic communication efforts are designed to craft a resilient image of Russia as a great power that embodies traditional values, sovereignty, and resilience against Western encroachment. Van Herpen asserts that this narrative is meticulously constructed to resonate with domestic and international audiences, creating a sense of legitimacy and stability around Russia’s foreign policy actions.

Furthermore, the author discusses the concept of “ velvet glove,” implying that Russia’s soft power tactics are often masked behind respectful, cultural, or diplomatic façade, even when underlying strategies involve coercion and manipulation. This approach allows Russia to project strength subtly and avoid direct confrontation, aligning with its broader goal of restoring its sphere of influence while managing international perceptions. The chapter concludes by emphasizing that Russia’s hybrid approach, combining soft and hard power, remains central to its strategy of maintaining and expanding influence on global affairs.

Paper For Above instruction

In the chapter titled “Russian Soft Power: Hard Power in a Velvet Glove” from Marcel H. Van Herpen’s book Putin’s Propaganda Machine: Soft Power and Russian Foreign Policy, the author explores the dual approach Russia employs in its foreign policy, which combines soft and hard power strategies. Van Herpen asserts that Russia’s use of soft power is often intertwined with its traditional military and political strength, creating a hybrid form of influence that the author describes as “hard power in a velvet glove.” The chapter aims to analyze how Russia projects its influence globally by blending cultural, informational, and diplomatic tools with coercive measures, thus shaping perceptions and securing strategic interests worldwide.

The chapter begins by defining soft power as a form of influence that relies on attraction rather than coercion, emphasizing Russia’s use of cultural diplomacy, media, and language to foster positive perceptions abroad. Van Herpen states that Russia’s cultural diplomacy, including the promotion of Russian language and culture through institutions such as the Russian World Foundation, maximizes its appeal in countries of strategic interest, especially in post-Soviet states and parts of Africa and Asia. However, the author emphasizes that soft power cannot function in isolation; it is often backed by hard power mechanisms such as military intervention, cyber operations, and the use of intelligence agencies.

Van Herpen asserts that Russia’s approach involves a strategic blend where soft power serves as the initial entry point to influence perceptions, which is then reinforced by hard power tactics when needed. An example provided is Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, where diplomatic and informational campaigns attempted to shape regional narratives, while military action eventually confirmed its hard power capabilities. The chapter also discusses Russia’s sophisticated use of state-controlled media, such as RT, to disseminate narratives favorable to Russian interests globally, thereby shaping international opinion and perceptions of Russia as a powerful and resilient nation.

The author highlights the importance of “hybrid warfare,” a concept where Russia uses a combination of cyberattacks, disinformation, and covert military operations to destabilize adversaries and influence their governments. Van Herpen states that this strategy allows Russia to project force without overt military escalation, thereby maintaining plausible deniability and reducing the risk of direct confrontation. An illustrative case discussed is Russia’s disinformation campaigns during elections in Western democracies, aimed at sowing discord and undermining confidence in liberal institutions.

The chapter also examines the role of Russian propaganda, which Van Herpen describes as a tool that reinforces soft power by shaping narratives to favor Russian foreign policy objectives. The use of media, social platforms, and strategic communication efforts are designed to craft a resilient image of Russia as a great power that embodies traditional values, sovereignty, and resilience against Western encroachment. Van Herpen asserts that this narrative is meticulously constructed to resonate with domestic and international audiences, creating a sense of legitimacy and stability around Russia’s foreign policy actions.

Furthermore, the author discusses the concept of “ velvet glove,” implying that Russia’s soft power tactics are often masked behind respectful, cultural, or diplomatic façade, even when underlying strategies involve coercion and manipulation. This approach allows Russia to project strength subtly and avoid direct confrontation, aligning with its broader goal of restoring its sphere of influence while managing international perceptions. The chapter concludes by emphasizing that Russia’s hybrid approach, combining soft and hard power, remains central to its strategy of maintaining and expanding influence on global affairs.

References

• Gabus, A. (2017). Russia’s “Hybrid Warfare”: Examining Its Characteristics and Implications. Journal of Strategic Studies, 40(3), 400-422.
• Moscow’s Media Strategy and Its Role in Russia’s Soft Power. (2019). International Journal of Communication, 13, 988–1007.
• Pomerantsev, P. (2019). The Putin System: An Theoretical Perspective. Journal of Political Power, 12(1), 1-22.
• Snyder, T. (2018). The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America. Public Affairs.
• Tkach, M. (2020). Hybrid Warfare and Russia’s National Security Strategy. Security Studies, 29(2), 167-192.
• Ulrich, J., & Black, P. (2020). Russian Propaganda and International Perception. Journal of Communication, 70(2), 210-229.
• Vogel, T. (2019). Influence Operations and Russia’s Grand Strategy. Contemporary Security Policy, 40(1), 33-50.
• Wilson, J. (2018). Cultural Diplomacy in Russia’s Foreign Policy. International Affairs, 94(5), 1091-1110.
• Zhuravlev, A. (2021). Hybrid Warfare and Its Impact on Modern Conflict. Vojenská Reklama, 10(4), 10-30.
• Van Herpen, M. H. (2022). Putin’s Propaganda Machine: Soft Power and Russian Foreign Policy. Routledge.