CASE STUDY. by Daniela Estefanía Fernández Díaz

Italy: Soft Power

a01772651 — 2025-09-15 16:30:03 UTC

Soft Power, its global influence comes mainly from attraction and culture, not military strength or raw resources. Ex: Italy’s strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea gives it control over trade and migration routes between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Rumania: Natural Power

a01772651 — 2025-09-15 16:34:50 UTC

Romania is mainly a natural power due to its geographic position and resources. Ex: Romania controls part of the Danube River and has access to the Black Sea, which gives it strategic geographic and economic importance in trade and energy routes.

México: Soft Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-15 16:38:29 UTC

Mexico relies on Soft Power, because most of the leverage it gets on the world is from it's strong cultural presence: Traditions, music, gastronomy, people. Also in importance comes the tourism (second country most visited), making it attractive to the rest of the world.

Ireland: Soft Power

a01772651 — 2025-09-15 16:39:09 UTC

Ireland is primarily a Soft Power — its influence comes from culture, economy, and international reputation, not military strength or natural resources. Ex: Ireland attracts global attention through its culture and literature.

Spain: Soft Power

a01772651 — 2025-09-15 16:43:16 UTC

Spain is primarily a Soft Power, because its global influence comes from culture, language, tourism, and diplomacy, even though it also has medium natural and hard power. Ex: Spain exports art, music (Flamenco), cuisine (paella, tapas), and festivals that shape global culture.

Brazil: Soft Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-15 16:44:08 UTC

Brazil does have an extense ammount of military presence that would ammount to Hard Power. But!! even so, what does give it more of a presence in the world is the also extensive ammount of culture: Touristic places, sport, samba, the Amazon rainforest, carnivals. A good example could be Brazil hosting sport events, specifically football.

Germany: Soft Power

a01772651 — 2025-09-15 16:48:05 UTC

Germany is primarily a Soft Power because its global influence comes from economic strength, culture, technology, and diplomacy, rather than raw resources or military dominance. Ex: German engineering, cars, and policies shape international markets.

Cuba: Soft Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-15 16:53:52 UTC

One may think that beacuse of the ongoing dictatorship and harsh living conditions it is hard power, but in reality, it has a lot of historical and revolutionary sybolism aswell as provided the world with some important figures. Something else to note is the efficency of their health diplomacy since during COVID-19 they sent equipped doctors all round the world to help out in medical brigades.

Venezuela: Hard Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-15 16:58:23 UTC

Venezuela is mainly known for the oil politics in it's country. Thanks to these resources it takes advantage of the need of this same oil and keeps countries that still have a relationship and commerce with it.

Argentina: Soft Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-15 16:59:47 UTC

Influence from Argentina comes from sport. Being recognized worldwide for it's figures in football soccer. That attracts tourism and has people interested in it's culture more.

Ethiopia: Natural power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 01:24:35 UTC

Has incredible ammounts of natural resources, that includes some agricultural potential all around the country. Control over the Blue Nile because of water dams in the area, aswell as a lot of population. Also has an attractive demographic since it has been one of the only African countries to not be colonized, aswell as the United Nations Commission for Africa is located in it's territory which would give some soft power elements, but, overall it's natural ressources overpower them.

Kenia: Soft Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 01:37:40 UTC

Kenia has soft power because of it's ability to attract people to the country. First of all, the tourism in the country is high, from safari tours to national parks are frequented places in Kenia, that cause a lot of people to be excited to go. Aswell as they have high athletic development, many marathon runners and olympic athletes.

South Africa: Hard Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 01:46:20 UTC

South Africa is essentially the most industrialized state of Africa, having developped an insanely advanced economic system. Actually, it is a regional military power with strong influence in the Southern Africa Development Community. this makes it one of the countires with most leverage in: industralization, economics and weaponry, making it a hard power.

Malawi: Natural Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 01:53:34 UTC

It is one of the most recurred countries when others need it's advances in agriculture, having huge plantations of tabacco, tea and sugar; which are it's main exportation. Aswell as the Malwi Lkae which is a great source for fishing and sweet water. Has economic difficulties but has great agricultural and hydroelectric potential.

Madagascar: Natural Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 02:01:20 UTC

Even if also recognized for a pretty remarkable ammount of tourism because of it's amazing fauna and flora, madagascar's main power is natural. Not only it is 80% of the world production of vanilla but it also a global export of different minerals like: niquel, cobalt, ilmenite and graphite. Aswell as many endemic species that mark it's territory.

Latin America

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 02:05:31 UTC

We consider it is a region with variety and that even if some countries are way more advantaged than others, it is a Multipolar region SINCE the power is distribuited between all countries mentioned and others. But it also could be considered hegemonic since most control over these countries is taken by a country like the United States.

Europe

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 02:07:52 UTC

We consider it is multipolar. Though, historically, the power has been shared between countries like England, France and Germany. Even so, nowadays the power dynamics are much more even and we can confidently say it is Multipolar now.

South-east Africa

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 02:10:05 UTC

Maybe due to popular belief it might be considered multipolar andwe agree but we would like to create an argument to it being pretty hegemogic. We can clearly see an economic and industrialized leverage from South Africa, even if the other countries are also extremely important, we can see some sort of control over various industries by South Africa. So we would settle on Hegemogic with tints of multipolarism.

Egipt: Natural Power (With Hard Power kind of).

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 02:19:32 UTC

In the aspect of Natural Power, Egipt has a lot of ressources, this including the Suez Canal which is in charge of atleast 12% of the global economy flow. This adds also to te agriculture by the Nile which is also important for global economy AND the fact it does have the greatest population numbers in MENA. Hard Power elements come from the fact that Egipt has the largest military force of all MENA, even if not the most technologically advanced, and it positions itself as a mediator for the rest of the countries in current conflict.

Saudi Arabia: Natural Power.

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 02:24:58 UTC

Even if it is recognized for some of it's Soft Power in the terms of it being the home of many sacred islam temples, it is mostly a Natural Power country. This is because Saudi Arabia is the main global export of petroleum, which is notably necessary in every part of the world, aside from this it also holds a reserve of natural gas.

Iran: Hard Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 02:25:49 UTC

It has a potent military force and is very well known for being an incredibly revolutionary state, emphasis on the defiant part of revolution. It has a technologically advanced Military and Revolutionary Guard, as it also has a strong indirect influence on neighbooring countries. It has strong ideologies that the country constantly backs up and refuses to let down aswell as it develops more nuclear and technological advances on the daily.

Israel: Hard Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 02:42:24 UTC

Despite personal opinions in the team, israel does get the props for it's highly developed military force. To further elaborate: It has a very technologically advanced military force, potential non-declared nuclear weaponry and an Iron Dome, which is an advanced defense system. Power that the state decides to subdue on other neighbooring states (Free Palestine).

Qatar: Soft Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 02:51:25 UTC

AlthoughQatar does have many natural ressources such as GNL, it acts as a diplomat of sorts for the region, aswell as gaining a lot of attractionand popularity to the country from the football soccer community.

Middle East & North Africa (MENA)

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 02:54:18 UTC

Thsi region has a lot of competitiveness and crazy ammounts of internal countries, but eitherways it is still Multipolar. This is because most of the countries ar up to par with the others, atleats the ones chosen for this study, which shows that they could be competitive but everyone in there has aroudn the same ammount of power.

China: Hard Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 03:57:08 UTC

Truly, China is recognized as a massive world power, and that is because it is true. It is the second largest world economy, directky in competition with the US and Russia. It is also worth to add that China has the largest army in the whole world. China has been very selective and intelligent with resources and that classifies it as a Hard Power, aswell as it has strong influence over many countries in Africa and Latin America in both commercial and political aspects.

Japan: Soft Power.

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 04:19:12 UTC

Japan has done a great job in globalizing it's culture and really mastered it. It has soft power even if it does have amazing technology and industralization because of the sheer quantity of people that it's culture has reached outside of the country. Anime, manga, videogames and gastronomy all form part of the whole world now and it is truly wonderful.

India: Hard Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 04:25:49 UTC

India, even if known for it's amazing tourism spots, gastronomy and overall culture, it's powerfull and extensive army and nuclear development potential is a true game changer. It has been investing into the education aspect of the country and the technological and scientifical aswell, having sent many missions to the moon and mars.

South Korea: Soft Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 04:29:46 UTC

Just like Japan, South Kora has manages to bring the whole world it's culture in more recent years. Starting with the Hallyu Wave things like K-dramas, K-pop and movies from this country got popular in extreme. Aswell as it has provided the word with a bunch of technological brands like Samsung, Hyundai and LG. Finally, it is politically active as a diplomat which always attracts people into the country.

Australia: Natural and Soft Power.

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 04:32:26 UTC

Australia is known for it's interesting fauna and it's attractive lifestyle that the warm and upbeat country offers. It is the world's #1 export of iron and it has amazing agricultural potential. It also offers a lot of universities and sports which attract young people. Finally, even if minimal tourism does exist thanks to the amazing surroundings of the country.

Asia & Oceania

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 04:34:50 UTC

After delivering for a little while we came to te conclusion that in this region there might be eitehr an hegemogic ammount of power but an overall multipolar structure. Obvously the power inbalance from China to other countries is insanely big. But most of these countries are also extremely strong and even if China has a lot of power the only countries are also powerfull in the world.

Russia: Hard Power

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 16:16:44 UTC

Nuclear Power, one of the largest in the whole world if not the largest. It is also currently involved in numerous militar interventions and is known to eherce it's industrial power and weaponry in other countries. It also has great developments in technology and it has exploited most ofit's resoureces and geographical advantages throughout the years.

Ukrain: Hard Power

a01772651 — 2025-09-18 16:16:49 UTC

The army has strengthened since 2022 with Western support.

Massive agricultural capacity (grains and sunflowers).

Symbolism of resistance and sovereignty in global politics.

Russia → Hard Power

Nuclear power with a strategic arsenal.

Military interventions (Ukraine, Syria).

Energy influence (gas and oil for Europe and Asia).

Moldavia: Soft Power

a01772651 — 2025-09-18 16:17:37 UTC

We consider it has Soft power because its cultural identity is closely tied to Romania and Europe, as it projects a narrative of being a bridge between the East (Russia) and the West (EU). It is a small and vulnerable country, with the separatist region of Transnistria (supported by Russia). It also has agricultural aspects and is recognized in Europe. Rather than imposing, Moldova seeks protection and alliances, exercising diplomatic soft power towards the EU.

Belarus: Hard Power

a01772651 — 2025-09-18 16:18:41 UTC

We consider that Belarus has Hard Power, although it depends on Russia. Even though it is not strong on its own, its alliance with Russia turns it into a strategic platform, as seen with the use of Belarusian territory in the 2022 war against Ukraine. It also has an authoritarian regime under Lukashenko, strongly aligned with Moscow. Its location is key as a buffer between Russia and NATO (Poland, Lithuania). It exercises its hard power through alliance rather than its own capacity.

Armenia: Soft Power.

a01772651 — 2025-09-18 16:21:08 UTC

We think it's soft because of The Armenian diaspora, found in countries such as France, Russia, and the United States, has a political and cultural impact. Aswell as it is the first Christian country in the world, it creates an important cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO.

Aswell as it has natural elements like Fresh water and minerals (such as molybdenum and copper) in the Caucasus region. With a military weakness compared to Azerbaijan, it depends on Russia and its diaspora to survive diplomatically. More than military, it is a cultural and symbolic projection.

Post-Soviet States.

a01773309 — 2025-09-18 16:28:03 UTC

There is a clear power dynamic within this region as you can notice either some countries are targetted by or fully dependent on Russia. So we can assume it is an hegemonic power dynamic.