In short, “real power,” not “soft power” or “smart power,” is going to be the critical factor shaping the course of this century—just as it has shaped the course of every other century in human history. Acknowledging this fact does not mean ignoring the actions of powers when their actions challenge our goals and values. It means we must not move towards pointless confrontations or turn them into enemies. It means dealing with issues in terms of the real balance of power in carefully measured terms, and pursuing pragmatic compromises and options.
The Georgia War and the Century of “Real Power”
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