Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm moderated a Mid-Coast Forum on Foreign Relations talk at the Camden Opera House on September 7 on how soft power is an essential element of foreign relations. Schweitzer-Bluhm is a retired US Senior Foreign Service Officer who organized soft power events as part of her duties at US embassies abroad.
Soft power, a term coined by Joseph Nye in the 1980s, is the ability to influence others through appeal and attraction instead of by resorting to coercive pressure through military or economic threats or actions. Cultural exchanges are a significant tool in projecting soft power.
The discussion featured French cultural counselor Mohamed Bouabdallah and American classical singer and cultural diplomat Carla Canales, who boast decades of experience in organizing and participating in cultural exchange events. The two panelists shared their experiences and insights into the impact and value of these events in the conduct of foreign relations.
The Midcoast Forum on Foreign Relations, founded in 1983, seeks to promote the study of U.S. foreign policy through speakers, discussion groups and the production of relevant materials.
Listen to the talk. Those interested in learning more about the Mid-Coast Forum on Foreign Relations can visit midcoastforum.org. The Maine Monitor periodically shares recordings of talks hosted by the forum.