Saudi Arabia’s Bid for Soft Power Faces Some Big Hurdles
Fireworks at the trophy ceremony during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational in Saudi Arabia in October
Photographer: Joe Scarnici/LIV Golf/Getty Images EuropeCan you buy “soft power”? Saudi Arabia is making an effort to find out the answer to that question.
The US has long stood out as a nation with enormous “hard power” in the form of its military, financial and industrial base—but also major soft power, too. American films, music and institutions of higher learning are highly valued the world over, offering an important channel of influence.