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“Providential Smart Power”: How John Paul II’s Nyean Soft Power Helped Defeat Communism
Abstract
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to explain Pope John Paul II’s role in the formation of Solidarity in Poland using the concept of soft power as formulated by the political scientist Joseph Nye.
THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND METHODS: Many historians consider Pope John Paul II’s first pilgrimage to his native Poland, which took place on June 2–10, 1979, to have played a key role in the collapse of communism across East-Central Europe. However, their explanations of the pope’s role are often vague. Joseph Nye’s concept of soft power is helpful in framing the significance of the papal visit from a political science point of view. My qualitative research is interdisciplinary.
THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The article explains the impact of John Paul II’s first visit to communist Poland using the three sources of soft power identified by Joseph Nye: culture, political values, and foreign policy. In all these categories, the pope increased the Church’s soft power. The article concludes by noting that John Paul II’s pilgrimage was not the only cause for the collapse of communist rule in East-Central Europe, which does not disprove Nye’s non- reductionistic concept.
RESEARCH RESULTS: This analysis has demonstrated that Pope John Paul II’s 1979 visit to Poland contributed to an increase in the Catholic Church’s three sources of soft power, as identified by Joseph Nye.
CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: While John Paul II and the Catholic Church’s soft power played an important role in forming Solidarity, they alone do not suffice to explain the peaceful collapse of communism. The independent but mutually reinforcing contributions of the pope, Reagan, and Gorbachev may be dubbed “providential smart power.” This study should remind scholars to avoid the “Stalin trap” of negating the role of religious soft power in precipitating political change.
Keywords
Pope John Paul II ; soft power ; Joseph Nye ; communism ; Vatican Ostpolitik
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