BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

EXPLORING SOFT POWER POTENTIALS OF BANGLADESH: RESOURCES, LIMITATIONS AND OPTIONS

Author: Lam-ya Mostaque, Syeda Tanzia Sultana

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2017v38n4a5

ABSTRACT

With the end of the Cold War, soft power has started to get prominence in international arena. Consequently, there is a growing awareness amongst big and small states to pursue soft power in order to achieve their foreign policy objectives. In this respect, this paper explores the soft power potentials of Bangladesh. Since its inception in 1971, Bangladesh’s foreign policy embeds the principle of peace and friendship to all and malice to none. It also encompasses the strive for renunciation of the use of force in international relations and for general and complete disarmament. In all, foreign policy of Bangladesh does not advocate the use of hard power. Given this backdrop, this paper argues that the concept of soft power offers a golden possibility for small states like Bangladesh to gain its foreign policy objectives by marking its footprints globally and regionally. This can only be achieved once it undertakes necessary steps to transform its soft power resource capacity into soft power capability. Based on these arguments, the paper explores the potential resources of Bangladesh’s soft power and its limitations. The paper ends with an exposition of possible options to develop its soft power capability further.