Browsing by Subject "Soft power"

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    Production and consumption of academic knowledge: the rising and expansion of the 'soft power' concept (1989-2020)
    (Routledge, 2023) Hernández Pérez, Manuel; Baños Moreno, María José; Información y Documentación; Chitty, Naren ; Ji, Lilian; Rawnsley, Gary D.; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Comunicación y Documentación
    Using scientometrics, a combination of bibliometrics and content analysis, as analytical tools, the chapter is intended to trace the influences between the production of scientific knowledge and the conceptualizing of the ‘soft power’ (SP) concept. The sample employed was extracted from publications indexed in Scopus corresponding to the period of 1989-2020. These publications were studied through authorship patterns, the degree of international collaboration and the production by country. Main themes were analyzed not just as a way of characterizing this ‘academic ecosystem’ but also the disciplines involved in the SP concept development employing techniques such as co-word analysis and clustering of most abundant terms. The rising of this concept in scholarship during the last years (especially from 2005-2012) is one of the main findings. Among other key findings of the study, we should emphasize the diversity of SP thematic axes around the social science areas of diplomacy (ie. national branding, use of media) and international relationships (geopolitical conflicts, transnational education) Some discussion of the concept of ‘soft power’ and its multiple variants (smart power, hard power) was also found. There was also some dissociation between scholarship production levels and the production of SP-related outcomes. Not always can the investment in SP literature be reflected in national branding and reputation.