Political theory 'addresses such issues as the nature of political authority, the relationship of the state to the individual, and citizens' obligations and responsibility to one another. The Saylor Introduction to Political Science reading you read at the beginning of this unit explained that political theory involves the study of politics from a philosophical perspective. The study of political science often involves difficult and philosophical topics. What do you think is the most effective: hard, soft, or smart power? As you read, consider the importance of power in political science and think about how power can be exercised. Hallam questions whether the debate over hard and soft power is outdated, particularly considering the Obama administration's emerging emphasis on 'smart power' and the challenges of national security in an unstable international system. This article offers critiques of the concept of soft power in contemporary international relations. Lastly, 'smart power' involves the strategic use of soft and/or hard power, depending on the situation. government official Joseph Nye, is power through persuasion or attraction. Soft power, popularized by scholar and U.S. Hard power is the most traditional conceptualization of power and involves force or coercion. Since 'power' is such an important concept in political science, political scientists have categorized power into three categories: hard power, soft power, and 'smart' power.

Intro to political science infographic