By Alistair Burnett

January 08, 2015

" This year has seen marked resurgence in the use of hard power by states in pursuit of national interests. 

The US return to military action in Iraq and direct intervention in Syria, Russia's annexation of Crimea and destabilization of eastern Ukraine and China's assertion of its territorial claims in the East and South China seas are just three examples of major powers turning to force and coercion to achieve strategic aims.

Yet, not so long ago, talk in diplomatic, academic and journalistic circles focused on the growing importance of soft power in international relations."

Read more:

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/china-russia-and-us-juggle-soft-and-hard-power 

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