ABSTRACT
It is debatable as to whether a government or other state body can contribute in great measure to a country’s soft power (Hirano 2000). It seems that more often governments can damage their country’s image through interventions designed purely for short-term political purposes. Nevertheless, governments can improve the soft power of their country by focusing on domestic policies, which can make the country’s image more attractive to outsiders and contribute to a national identity in the international arena.
