Joseph Nye is a prominent analyst in the field of international relations. His views regarding types of power and its implementation are widely studied all over the world. In “The Future Attempt,” Nye tries to summarize the ideas expressed in his earlier works and to perform a profound analysis of power’s character in the twenty-first century.
“The Future Attempt” represents a systematic examination of the power phenomenon. In the first part, the author enlightens some of the already discussed concepts, such as the soft and hard powers. Nye also suggests new ideas on the peculiarities of the economic and military powers here. The second part focuses on the increasing importance of social networks and mass media’s impact on everyday life.
The final chapter is devoted to the analysis of smart power. Nye tries to speculate upon the most efficient strategy of the power’s engagement in the modern world. The general idea of the author is that a strong military power is insufficient for solving international problems in the current political and social environment (Nye 229).
Although the book is aimed at representing a thorough analysis of some complex political issues, Nye’s style is ultimately simple and clear. The author does not confuse his readers with an abundance of specific terms or notions. On the contrary, the book is full of vivid examples and parallels, which makes it intelligible to a large public.
“The Future Attempt” provides valuable insights into the current state of world politics and the changes it is undergoing. The author’s systematic approach enables the reader to receive a full idea of the concept of power, its subtypes, and the variants of its engagement.
Works Cited
Nye, Joseph S. The Future of Power, New York, New York: PublicAffairs, 2011. Print.