‘Father of Neoliberalism’ Passes Away at 88
Joseph Nye, a renowned US political scientist who played a significant role in developing the international relations theory of neoliberalism with Robert Keohane, has passed away at 88 years old, as confirmed by Harvard University. Over his...
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Joseph Nye, a renowned US political scientist who played a significant role in developing the international relations theory of neoliberalism with Robert Keohane, has passed away at 88 years old, as confirmed by Harvard University.
Over his impressive six-decade tenure at Harvard, Nye contributed to the establishment of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, serving as its dean from 1995 to 2004. The school’s alumni include many influential US political figures.
In a statement regarding his death on Wednesday, HKS noted that Nye’s "ideas on the nature of power in international relations influenced generations of policymakers, academics, and students and made him one of the world’s most celebrated political thinkers."
Nye was credited with "developed the concepts of soft power, smart power, and neoliberalism," according to the statement.
In the early 1990s, Nye introduced the idea of “soft power,” which describes how nations can achieve their goals through “attraction, rather than coercion or payment.” He later introduced the concept of “smart power,” highlighting the effectiveness of blending hard and soft power within a cohesive foreign policy strategy. This term was commonly referenced during the presidencies of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
During President Jimmy Carter's administration, Nye oversaw efforts related to nuclear non-proliferation. Under Clinton, he chaired the National Intelligence Council and held the position of assistant secretary of defense.
Former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid tribute to Nye on X, stating he was “a friend and mentor to so many, including me.” He added, “Few contributed as much to our intellectual capital, our understanding of the world and America’s place in it.”
In recent years, Nye had voiced increasing criticism of US President Donald Trump, suggesting he was neglecting the importance of soft power and “bullying” both allies and other nations. In a March article for the Financial Times, he remarked, “Extreme narcissists such as Trump are not true realists, and American soft power will have a hard time during the next four years.”
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
Over his impressive six-decade tenure at Harvard, Nye contributed to the establishment of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, serving as its dean from 1995 to 2004. The school’s alumni include many influential US political figures.
In a statement regarding his death on Wednesday, HKS noted that Nye’s "ideas on the nature of power in international relations influenced generations of policymakers, academics, and students and made him one of the world’s most celebrated political thinkers."
Nye was credited with "developed the concepts of soft power, smart power, and neoliberalism," according to the statement.
In the early 1990s, Nye introduced the idea of “soft power,” which describes how nations can achieve their goals through “attraction, rather than coercion or payment.” He later introduced the concept of “smart power,” highlighting the effectiveness of blending hard and soft power within a cohesive foreign policy strategy. This term was commonly referenced during the presidencies of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
During President Jimmy Carter's administration, Nye oversaw efforts related to nuclear non-proliferation. Under Clinton, he chaired the National Intelligence Council and held the position of assistant secretary of defense.
Former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid tribute to Nye on X, stating he was “a friend and mentor to so many, including me.” He added, “Few contributed as much to our intellectual capital, our understanding of the world and America’s place in it.”
In recent years, Nye had voiced increasing criticism of US President Donald Trump, suggesting he was neglecting the importance of soft power and “bullying” both allies and other nations. In a March article for the Financial Times, he remarked, “Extreme narcissists such as Trump are not true realists, and American soft power will have a hard time during the next four years.”
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
