Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Islamic Azad University, Sawadkoh Branch, Sawadkoh, Iran

2 a

3 Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch

Abstract

In the new century, if a country relies only on maintaining its military and economic power, which is called hard power, and fails to strengthen the third dimension of power, i.e. cultural attractions, values and institutions, in competition with other actors with many threats outside its borders Joseph Nye emphasizes that the United States of America has gradually lost the legitimacy of its soft power in some areas in the last years of the 20th century. It has created the ground for the reduction of the soft power of the United States, hence the soft power of the United States is eroding compared to the past. Research findings show that America's soft power is declining compared to other emerging players. Using the descriptive-analytical method and Joseph Nye's soft power theoretical framework, this article seeks to answer the question of what are the factors influencing the decline of American soft power in the international system. Social issues that have taken place in recent years, such as the reduction of military power, the reduction of influence in international institutions, the dissatisfaction of public opinion with unilateralism, the formation of emerging powers, the reduction of the credibility of lifestyles, the weakening of media freedoms, the soft power of America in the long run, it shows a great depression and erosion. In practice, the possible return of America's soft power to its previous position and the ability to maintain the credibility and legitimacy of the past does not seem likely in the short term.

Keywords