AO1: States invest in hard power, it provides for security and states continue to spend significant sums on military hardware with a total global expenditure of over $2.1 trillion in 2021, the United States is responsible for approximately 40% of global military spending and China is the second largest military spender with approx. 14% of global spending. AO2: Almost all countries appear willing to spend a significant percentage of their GDP on military expenditure with Oman and Saudi Arabia spending over 8% of GDP on military expenditure in 2021 AO3: We may conclude that states are as committed to military expenditure as they have ever been and that the vast relative sums spent on military expenditure make clear that states consider hard power to be more effective than soft power AO1: Economic sanctions have been used by regional bodies, states and organisations such as the UN including by the United States and allies against Iran and North Korea. AO2: Economic sanctions against Iran have included attempts to bar military and other exports related to its nuclear programme as well as targeting Iranian petroleum exports, banks and shipping and have had the effect of weakeningthe Iranian currency, driving away investors and causing inflation AO3: We may evaluate that the economic impact of sanctions on Iran has been significant enough to illustrate the effectiveness of hard power use AO1: Russian launched a huge military invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to seize a significant percentage of Ukraine territory, NATO states have supplied military equipment which Ukraine has used to reverse these initial Russian militarygains whilst Russia continues to use military strikes against Ukraine infrastructure. AO2: The ready use of military hard power in the Ukraine conflict has been supported by use of economic hard power as states introduced economic sanctions against Russia and Russia has been accused of using energy as a weapon against those states who oppose its actions in Ukraine AO3: We may conclude that the wide use of hard power both in military as well as economic forms over an extended period in Ukraine and including the threat of nuclear weapon exchange makes clear that states do see hard power as the default power for effectiveness AO1: The United States brought about regime change in both Iraq and Afghanistan with the use of military power and the UN has used economic sanctions as a form of hard power against states like Iran. AO2: The USA clearly determined that its desired regime change in Iraq and Afghanistan could only be achieved using hard rather than soft power and that soft power has limitations in bringing about desired outcomes for both states and international organisations AO3: We may evaluate that the ready use of hard power by states and international organisations which represent states makes clear that states do see hard power as an effective form of power, often where soft power is considered unlikely to achieve those desired aims

AO1: There has been a significant increase in the use of soft power as a growing alternative to the traditional use of hard power by states. AO2: States appear more determined to develop a positive soft power image than in the past with China, as an example, creating several hundred Confucious institutes around the world to teach its language and culture and a hugediplomatic network worldwide as it attempts to replicate the soft power status of other significant powers AO3: We may evaluate that the emphasis on the growth of a soft power face as states attempt to replace hard power with persuasion, attraction and reputation makes clear that states are increasingly seeing soft power as a better alternative to hard power AO1: The USA moved from use of hard power to soft power with an attempt to win hearts and minds in Afghanistan and Iraq and following significant criticism for hard power actions. AO2: A shift to soft power took place with attempts at nation building, education reforms and democratic reforms after recognition that the reputation of the USA had been damaged through use of hard power in what had been termedby some as an illegal war and as the USA realised the importance of maintaining a positive soft power global image in order to build global support for its actions AO3: We may conclude that the global hegemon had realised that in order to achieve objectives it had to focus on more effective soft rather than hard power AO1: In a world of complex interdependence, the use of soft power allows goals to be achieved through collaboration and cooperation and without the damaging costs of hard power use. AO2: Complex interdependence has brought states together to resolve issues whilst avoiding the damaging costs of hard power use, often through regional bodies where states meet to debate, discuss, cooperate and attempt to attractsupport with Europe as an example where the use of military conflict such as the historical European state conflicts has been replaced by a period of relative peace and economic prosperity AO3: We may evaluate that the replacement of military conflict and trade wars with peace and prosperity is a clear sign that soft power is more attractive and effective than hard power AO1: Globalisation has brought a greater flow of information between states and citizens of states are now better able to be informed about the values and culture of other states which they can evaluate and compare with their own. AO2: Globalisation has allowed the values and culture of the EU member states and organisation to spread and more states have been attracted to join the organisation and to embrace the soft power values of the organisation including Ukraine which can be contrasted with the considerable damage done to Russia by its hard power actions in Ukraine which has led to the Russian economy contracting, increased food and fuel prices, inflation generally andscarcity of certain commodities AO3: We may conclude that the contrast between the soft power attraction of the EU and the damage done to Russia by use of hard power makes clear that soft power is more effective and attractive than hard power