What Role Does Soft Power Play In Foreign Policy

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The foreign relations of the United States have undergone drastic changes since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Many of these changes were due to conflict between the United States and other nations. However, one element of these wars was the usage of food for both the citizens at home and the soldiers fighting them. Food has played a substantial role in many aspects of each war, from the military rations, to the economic impact that shortages and surpluses could produce. Throughout these battles and triumphs, the global food supply, environment, and agricultural supplies have massively contributed to where the United States has directed its foreign policies to this day.
To regard food as a part of foreign policy, it must be understood that it is considered to be “soft power.” Soft power is a concept used to describe the use of persuasion in internal relationships, often through the use of economic or cultural influence (“Oxford Dictionary Definition of Soft
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First, inflation has taken a major toll; as prices increase, the overall cost of living goes with it, yet wages aren’t inflating as rapidly to correlate with these new costs, so for some, that means an inescapable debt trap, and for others, it means mass starvation. Neither of the two is satisfactory living standards for anyone, and in the attempt to decrease costs, dangerous chemicals have been added to the food in one way or another. Pesticides, preservatives, and High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) are relatively new chemicals in the food industry, so long-term effects haven’t quite been established beyond the conclusion that they are, indeed, toxic. HFCS, for example, contains traces of mercury which can be highly toxic when accumulated in the body (Hawthorne, Gucciardi). Other factors regarding food and U.S. foreign policy is the impact of agriculture and the