{"id":10415,"date":"2021-02-26T17:03:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-26T17:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brandfinance.com\/?post_type=press-release&p=10415"},"modified":"2021-09-30T16:31:36","modified_gmt":"2021-09-30T15:31:36","slug":"secretary-hillary-clinton-at-global-soft-power-summit-2021","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/brandfinance.com\/press-releases\/secretary-hillary-clinton-at-global-soft-power-summit-2021","title":{"rendered":"Secretary Hillary Clinton at Global Soft Power Summit 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To access recordings and additional materials,
register for the Global Soft Power Summit 2021 event hub here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, participated in a keynote conversation at the Global Soft Power Summit 2021<\/a> yesterday, hosted by Brand Finance<\/a> \u2013 the world\u2019s leading brand valuation consultancy. The virtual conference unveiled the findings of the Global Soft Power Index 2021<\/a> \u2013 the world\u2019s most comprehensive research study on perceptions of nation brands, capturing opinions of 75,000 respondents in 100 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her remarks, Secretary Clinton focused on the value of democracy for the soft power of nations around the world, especially in the context of the transition of power in the United States. During her conversation with BBC World\u2019s Zeinab Badawi, Secretary Clinton called upon the leaders of the United States and the United Kingdom to defend democracy<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to be really focused together on protecting this precious form of government that we have both helped to defend and promote. And I think that there\u2019s a real chance that both President Biden and Prime Minister Johnson, and allies in both countries can take that seriously, deal with the effects of disinformation, and propaganda, and undermining institutions, so that we are not whittled away from within while we\u2019re trying to act on the global stage to solve the problems we face there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And emphasized the importance of democratic allies<\/strong>: \u201cThe relationship between the United States, Canada, and Europe, and then other democratic allies, such as those that sprang up in Asia, like Japan, South Korea, those pillars of democracy, over time, have made a lot of difference in lifting up the rest of the world. Now we\u2019ve got to take a look at where we are and say, okay, what is the agenda for the future?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secretary Clinton also commented on the transition of power in the US<\/strong>: \u201cI think we\u2019re seeing that a clear majority of our country \u2013 as we saw in the election, where a clear majority voted for Joe Biden \u2013 a clear majority is welcoming that kind of professional approach to trying to govern again.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation touched upon the timely issue of female politicians and their response to COVID<\/strong>, with Secretary Clinton stating: \u201cIn the COVID response, it is fair to say that women leaders did an excellent job, not just in New Zealand and Germany, but in Finland and in Norway and in Denmark and other places where their leadership, exemplified by Angela Merkel and Germany as your number one brand nation for soft power, listened to the science, wasn\u2019t playing politics, trying to figure out how to deal with it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While discussing a range of international issues, relations with Iran<\/strong> was one example of Soft Power in action: \u201cIran came to the negotiating table, and in the second Obama term with John Kerry as Secretary of State, the negotiations continued and they resulted in the agreement. And agreements are never perfect, but this was a very important agreement that enabled inspections to be unannounced and continuing to determine whether or not Iran was cheating. It really put, as I like to say, a lid on the Iranian nuclear program and Trump took that lid off. Yes, I think that we have to get back into negotiations, which, of course, is a part of both soft and hard power because the sanctions were coercive. The negotiations and the diplomacy were what is sometimes called soft power, which is why I do like to combine it to talk about smart power for smart ends.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commenting on Secretary Clinton\u2019s participation in the Global Soft Power Summit, David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance, said: \u201cWe were honored to hear Secretary Clinton\u2019s thoughts on the importance of soft power in international relations. 2020 was a year like no other, putting all nations of the world to the test \u2013 from the impact of COVID-19 on societies and economies, to profound changes in the way people around the world live, work, and interact with each other. A nation\u2019s soft power matters more than ever.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The virtual conference unveiled the findings of the Global Soft Power Index 2021<\/a> and featured two stellar panels of speakers alongside Secretary Clinton, who explored the impact of the pandemic on nations around the globe and discussed predictions for the future following the turbulence of the last twelve months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hosted by BBC World\u2019s Zeinab Badawi, the Global Soft Power Summit 2021<\/a> welcomed, among others, former Prime Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, and Harvard Professor Joseph Nye who had originally coined the term soft power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To access recordings and additional materials,
register for the Global Soft Power Summit 2021 event hub here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Findings from the Global Soft Power Index:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n