France is number one for ‘soft power’
The election of President Macron has helped France jump four places to take the top slot in an annual survey of countries’ ‘soft power’ – a measure of how attractive and persuasive they are perceived to be.
With the US dropping from first to third due to President Trump’s ‘America first’ stance and the UK remaining in second place (down from number one in 2015), poll compilers Portland Communications cite Mr Macron’s ‘positive global outlook’ as the main reason for France’s boost.
Their Soft Power 30 report says he is “riding a wave of domestic and international popularity”, while at the same time “France’s cultural assets remain a major draw card for tourists”.
France’s other big strengths include being “the best-networked state in the world” and “a member of more multi-lateral organisations than any other country”.
The main area where it could do better is in business, where the report predicts that Mr Macron’s government will have to “make quick and decisive reforms”.
He will also have to work hard to maintain the momentum of his early success, it says.
The UK’s situation is described as “fraught” due to Brexit and the recent general election, and it is said to be “slightly left out” due to America’s more isolationist attitude and “a resurgent EU”.
Despite “numerous risks” involved in Brexit, the UK still has many core assets and may be able to “make a success of it”, the report says. That will “require a positive and inclusive narrative to take to the rest of the world”.
Germany and Canada were fourth and fifth.
The Soft Power 30 uses polling in 25 countries plus a range of digital data on each country’s strengths and attractiveness. It is done in connection with the University of Southern California.
'Soft power' is about factors like influence, persuasion and goodwill, as opposed to 'hard power' which is the ability to coerce other countries through wealth and military force.
