Soft and Smart Power in the Light of Leadership with Some Policy Remarks on the Western Balkans
Soft and Smart Power in the Light of Leadership with Some Policy Remarks on the Western Balkans

Summary/Abstract: The article is dealing with the changing role of the diplomacy in modern world, which is emerging into the “sociologisation” of international relations (result of globalization, of new space and time entities, of information revolution). In this new perspective, the soft / smart power diplomacy is gaining on the importance. The phrase was invented by the American theoretic Joseph S. Nye, but has been used – intentionally or “unconsciously” also in other countries. For us it is most important how soft / smart power is functioning in the aspects of world leaders. We presume that the personality as such is a holder of soft / smart power issues. The Western Balkans region was the testing field for soft power of the EU; unfortunately the test has failed. We do believe that it will not be the case for the future and that soft / smart power will gain on importance also in the fragile zones of the world. This is valid for the fragile time of economic crisis as well, whereby our attention should be focused on proper judgement. We believe that soft / smart power diplomacy is not a playground for superficial actors; it comprehends much more. It is still the most benign tool for achieving the political aims through attraction, based on deeper understanding.

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