The constraints on the development of Polish soft power

Abstract

The concept of soft power – ʺthe ability to get what is desired, thanks to attraction rather than coercion or moneyʺ – is gaining popularity and relevance in the age of information. The article presents the concept of soft power, its essence and role in contemporary for‐ eign policy. Soft power is both a tool for creating a certain narrative and a manifestation of the credibility of the state – an active participant in the international arena. Soft power shapes the image through culture, the values and internal and external policies, affecting socioeconomic variables in the longer term as well. The situation of the Republic of Po‐ land was analyzed on the basis of the theoretical outline as well as reports and rankings regarding the resources and trends of today’s soft power. The analysis showed that alt‐ hough the state has both resources and potential for international development in this area, it lacks infrastructure and awareness of the importance of  ʺsweet powerʺ. Soft power is not treated as one of the foreign policy paradigms, and the Polish approach lacks farsightedness, formal documents and frameworks that precisely define the meth‐ ods of controlling and measuring the effects of promoting Polish culture abroad.