...China has rediscovered its ancient culture and traditions. Confucius enjoys a remarkable renaissance. All ar­ound the world, China has established Confucius Institutes that spread knowledge about China’s culture and its language. Soft power is not an esoteric asset. It helps a country gain respect and friends in the world at large. And, this can be of great importance, particularly in turbulent times.

Nepal shares an intimate relationship with India. Both the countries have a strong cultural, historical, economical, social and political bond. Despite these robust ties, there have been instances where the bilateral links have been broken and difficult to repair. The recent diplomatic outburst by one of the Indian diplomats has raised serious concern. The untoward remark made by S.D.Mehta, the Indian consular based in Birjung has sent a squall of reactions all over Nepal.

One of the cardinal rules of Chinese diplomacy is that China doesn’t mix business with politics. The precept fits in nicely with the primacy that China places on sovereignty, respecting the right of a country—or at least the leaders of the moment—to determine how things ought to work. And, of course, it also provides Beijing with the opportunity to rationalize its lack of enthusiasm for tough foreign policy action in places such as Iran, Syria, Sudan, or Zimbabwe as a matter of principle.

India’s policy towards Afghanistan is the embodiment of the ‘soft power approach’. Soft power, in the crude sense, is the capacity of a state to influence others without twisting arms, threatening or compelling; in other words, it is the capacity to attract the target people and make them do your bidding.

It is also noteworthy that its diplomatic efforts in Somalia presented Turkey with an important opportunity to illustrate its soft power in Africa. It is certainly an indication of Turkey's foreign policy ambition to become a major economic and political player in Africa.

Yet if Serbia can now bring itself into the post-national European mainstream at last, this confirmation of the EU's soft power in transforming and democratizing its post-communist environs could help mitigate the EU's present self-doubt over the euro crisis.

The purchase might invigorate a campaign by the Chinese government to boost the country’s “soft power,” or cultural influence, in the U.S. and other countries...According to Xinhua, the Party’s Central Committee said “China is facing a difficult task in protecting ‘cultural security’ and feeling the urgency of enhancing its soft power and the international influence of its own culture.”