A Review of the Similarities and Differences between Public Diplomacy and Soft Concepts

The potential attractiveness of a nation is typically called soft power. World nations are currently trying to consolidate their soft power, using different mechanisms. Public diplomacy is a mechanism utilized to exercise soft power in action. Each country enjoys a certain degree of soft power depending on its position and competence; however, the policies and practices of a nation within the framework of public diplomacy can actualize this potential power and can provide for them to be more attractive and influential. On the other hand, when the meaning boundaries of the terms used in the literature of political sciences are not specified, at times, we face some undesirable interference in utilizing them. Although these terms have similarities and overlap, not paying attention to their range of meanings creates confusion in their application. Soft power, psychological operations, public diplomacy, propaganda and cultural relations are among such terms. Focusing on the concept of public diplomacy, this article attempts to discuss the meanings and applications of these soft concepts.