America is a paradox. It is a country that can put a man on the moon, but cannot fix its own pothole. It leads the world of innovation, but it complicates votes more than setting up a Wi-Fi router. It boasts a world-class university, but in some cities you won't be able to drink tap water all the time.
So, what is the secret source that keeps America influencing the global stage? It's not humanitarian assistance or model governance. America's true soft power lies in its unparalleled ability to shape the mind, market and imagination.
Every year, more than a million international students gather at American universities, drawing on the fame of names such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. American degrees are more than just paper. It is a golden passport and opens the door to career opportunities around the world. However, the impact does not stop at the US border.
Campuses such as Nyu Abu Dhabi, Georgetown Qatar and American University of Beirut bring American education to cities thousands of miles away, dreaming about English and dollars for a dollar. There were over 61,000 Saudi students and over 100,000 Indians in the 2015-2016 grades alone. Register with an American institution. These students don't just learn calculations and computer science. They are learning the way of thinking in America. That's power.
Look at your phone. Perhaps it is driven by American ingenuity. From iPhones in your pocket to AI breakthroughs from Openai and Google, the US is the indisputable king of innovation. It works pretty much on the WordPress ecosystem alone half World websites. Microsoft is redefineing productivity, Meta is shaping digital social interactions, and Tesla is moving the future. And don't forget SpaceX. It's not only dreaming of Mars, but also aggressively Building a rocket to take us there.
America is not just leading the technology race. Set the rules for the game. Countries around the world don't just buy American products. They are buying to American ideas about what the future should look like.
American culture is the world-renowned Lingua Franca. Check out the icons of global music like Hollywood movies, Netflix originals, Beyonce and Taylor Swift wherever you go, whether someone quotes American TV shows or hums songs on the Billboard charts. It's not just entertainment. It is cultural diplomacy.
And then there's fast food. There is nothing cultural advantage like finding McDonald's next to Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, or finding KFC in the heart of Tokyo. It's not just hamburgers and fries. It's about exporting one big Mac at a time to lifestyle.
Money speaks, US dollars scream. It is used in almost 90% of global forex tradingthe dollar is the world's reserve currency and the backbone of international trade. Wall Street remains global financial capital and sets the pace of global markets. Good luck, Brick.
America has a grand visible weakness about all its global impact. Start with the infrastructure. One of the richest countries on the planet Clean water is not always given. Relics to residents of Flint, Michigan, Jackson, Mississippi, and American airports, roads and bridges compared to future facilities in Singapore, Dubai, or small European countries. JFK Airport may be in New York City, but some of it feels like it had arrived in 1985.
Governance is not that good. Trust in American institutions can only hit the bottom of the rock; twenty two% of Americans who believe the government will do the right thing. Congress has a lower approval rating than a One Star Yelp Review. And democracy? just 28% Of the Americans, I think it works. This means that the other 71% are doomed or googled how to travel to Portugal.
And don't start healthcare. If you break your leg, you can see the $30,000 bill. Do I need an ambulance? It's better to call Uber. The US boasts some of the best doctors and hospitals in the world, but they are reserved for those who can afford to play this high stakes financial roulette.
America's soft power has not come from its ability to govern effectively or from its humanitarian efforts. Its influence stems from its role as the world's top exporter of ideas, technology and culture. Shape global narratives, set technical standards and define cultural cool. It is a country where you can start a startup in a world-changing garage that will change the world. It is a land of creativity, business and innovation.
That's America's true soft power. That's the ideas they export, the culture they project, and the future they continue to invent. And as long as America continues to lead in these areas, its impact will not go anywhere.
Faisal Saeed al Mutar He is the founder and president of Ideas Beyond Borders. Follow him @faisalalmutar.
