The term Soft Power was first used by the eminent IR scholar Joseph Nye in his book "Bound to Lead: The Changing Nature of American Power.” In the book, he identified three dimensions of power; coercion by military force, influence by offering economic incentives and finally the ability to co-opt other states by the
In politics (and particularly in international politics), soft power is the ability to co-opt rather than coerce (in contrast with hard power).
It involves shaping the preferences of others through appeal and attraction.
Soft power is non-coercive, using culture, political values, and foreign policies to enact change.
It is the capacity to coerce another to act in ways in which that entity would not have acted otherwise.
A military invasion is hard power.
Economic sanctions are hard power.
In contrast, coopted or soft power is the capacity to persuade others to do what one wants.