Marketplace All-in-One What happened to American soft power?
Sep 23, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Joshua Eisenman, a politics professor at the University of Notre Dame, explores the shifting landscape of U.S. soft power under Trump. He highlights America's retreat from global institutions and the resulting credibility loss. Eisenman warns how China is stepping in to fill the leadership void, promoting an alternative governance model. He shares insights from various countries about their responses to the U.S.-China rivalry and discusses the contrasting impacts of U.S. and Chinese foreign aid on global relations.
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US Credibility Erodes With Aid Cuts
- The Trump administration's cuts to agencies like USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy undermine longstanding U.S. credibility.
- Joshua Eisenman argues this signals a retreat from promoting liberal democracy and soft power.
Vacuum Invites Rival Influence
- Credibility is hard to win and easy to lose, and U.S. unpredictability damages long-term partnerships.
- Eisenman says this vacuum invites rivals like China and Russia to gain influence.
Fieldwork Across Diverse Countries
- Eisenman did fieldwork in countries including Czechia, Morocco, Ghana, Singapore, and Malaysia to study responses to U.S.-China rivalry.
- He observed many of these countries are moving closer to China or trying to balance both powers.