Furthermore, despite making impressive efforts to cultivate its soft power, Joseph Nye concludes that China “has had a limited return on its investment.” Perhaps most importantly, while the past decade has undermined global opinion of U.S. power and policy, China has been unable to develop strong alliances.

Wednesday was a day for public diplomacy between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as cultural figures from the two countries met for talks in Moscow, mediated by Russia. The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents agreed...on the need for more public contacts between the two sides...

The United States and Europe used sanctions and public diplomacy to try to effect change in Burma. We cut off non-humanitarian funds, targeted the regime with stiff sanctions, and publicly challenged the junta on its human rights abuses.

Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein talked about the best way to combat Israel-bashing, which he said had become a very popular subject. His advice was to tell the truth. “The more accurate the picture of Israel, the easier it will be for us to deal with those on the Israel-bashing campaign."

Competitors, be it hard currency (trade) or hardware and software (information technology), India and China are, and have reasons to be, competing in exercising their soft power as well. Inheritors of ancient cultures that have influenced others for centuries, both vigorously "export" them as part of "soft diplomacy".

Obama has ... significantly improved America’s image and consequent “soft power” around the world. (The Pew Global Attitudes Project found that since 2008 the number of people with a ‘positive view’ of the US has climbed from 37 percent to 54 in Indonesia and from 42 percent to 75 percent in France...

Americans remain highly dissatisfied with the United States' position in the world. This may be an extension of their dissatisfaction with conditions in the United States more generally, likely as a result of the economy. However, Americans' assessment of how other countries view the United States is improving, and Americans continue to believe the U.S. should play a major role in international affairs.

"First of all, Turkish public opinion perceived NATO as a Western and Christian organisation set up to support anti-Islam feelings," explains Colakoglu, adding that the rise of anti-Islam discourse in the West has fanned negative perceptions.