Soft Power as an Alternative to Hard Power in Counterterrorism in Saudi Arabia

摘要

Hard power has globally been the main strategy in countering terrorism for a long time. Saudi Arabia tried this strategy and found it ineffective. In its quest to find an effective alternative, the Saudi Arabian government decided to try soft power. One might ask what factors lead Saudi government officials to pursue a policy of soft power, and what elements built its soft power strategy. The answers are based on an analysis of the Saudi Arabian environment. Such an examination requires a thorough look at what effects the hard power approach had, as well as other factors such as education, social movements, and the historical role of the media. Saudi Arabia launched its soft power strategy via educational curriculum reform and a multifaceted media campaign which included public discourse, interviews, and a public information multimedia campaign. The soft power approach is viewed by the Saudi people as fruitful and is credited with saving the country and its people from terrorism. As such, Saudi Arabia recommends its use of soft power as a case study to allied countries.