The Chicago Council on Global Affairs in collaboration with the East Asia Institute (South Korea) conducted a six-nation public opinion survey examining the current and potential use of Soft Power in East Asia. The survey was carried out in the United States, Japan, China, South Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The concept of Soft Power is defined as the ability to wield influence by indirect, nonmilitary means, whether by persuasion or attraction. To measure the Soft Power of the four major powers in Asia, the survey examines themes such as the attractiveness of different national cultures and values, the effectiveness of nations as regional leaders and problem-solvers, their attractiveness as trade partners, levels of human capital, the emergence of regional identities, and other relevant topics. It also examines perceptions of growing economic and political integration in East Asia and the impact this has on underlying regional tensions. This is the first survey of its kind conducted in Asia.

The survey findings were released on June 17, 2008, at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace at an event cosponsored by the Brookings Institute.

Download the report:

Full Report - April 2009 (PDF)

October 22-24, 2009 - Financial Crisis and Soft Power in Asia Workshop