A comparative analysis of the soft power of Iran and US in post-Saddam Iraq

Abstract

Soft power as one manifestation of power allows countries to gain influence through means such as po-litical values, cultural diplomacy, and foreign policy attitudes. Iraq has become a venue for influential players such as Iran and the US to exert their soft power after 2003. Iran employs shared religious ties with the Shiite population in Iraq, promotes its independent anti-imperialist foreign policy as a value, highlights the shared geography and historical memories between the two countries, and applies other similar elements to enhance its soft power. On the other hand, the United States employs cultural attrac-tions and promotes values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights. The United States presents itself as an idealistic democratic archetype and encourages Iraq to emulate its model in the post-Saddam era. The aim of this chapter is to provide a comparison of soft power status of Iran and the US in the post-Saddam Iraq. © 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved.