Joseph Nye, Harvard Professor Who Coined the Concept of "Soft Power," Passes Away

Passed Away at 88
Emphasized the Importance of Alliances Against China During His Lifetime

On the 6th (local time), Joseph Nye, a distinguished professor at Harvard University who passed away at the age of 88, attended the 15th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Aspen Strategy Group meeting held in New Delhi, India in 2011. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Joseph Nye, a distinguished professor at Harvard University and an American political scientist who established the concept of "soft power"?distinguished from "hard power" such as military might?in international politics, passed away on the 6th (local time) at the age of 88, according to the Harvard Crimson, the university's student newspaper.

Nye was a leading scholar in international political science, known for co-developing the "neoliberalism theory" with Princeton University professor Robert Keohane. He was also the first to use the term "soft power" to describe a nation's ability to persuade others through cultural appeal and other means.

Appointed as a Harvard professor in 1964, Nye served as dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, which has educated many prominent leaders from the United States and around the world. He also brought practical government experience to his research, having served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs during the Bill Clinton administration.

Nye also placed great importance on American alliances, including the South Korea-U.S. alliance. For example, in a discussion hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a think tank, in February of last year, he stated, "The most important way we strengthen deterrence is by maintaining our alliances," adding, "If China has Russia and North Korea, the United States has alliances with Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea."

In March, Nye also offered pointed criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump in an op-ed for the Washington Post. He warned that actions such as threatening democratic allies like Denmark and Canada could seriously undermine international trust in the United States. Nye cautioned, "If Trump believes he can defeat China while completely abandoning soft power, he will soon be disappointed," adding, "And the damage will be borne by all Americans."

Nicholas Burns, a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and former U.S. Ambassador to China, paid tribute to Nye, saying, "Countless people considered him an indispensable mentor," and "He was a giant in the Kennedy School and in our lives."