Science, not Hollywood or Starbucks, is America's best soft power

The US should pursue science diplomacy with Muslim-majority countries, which would complement efforts to promote human rights.
By Ahmed Zewail / June 28, 2010

Pasadena, Calif.
In today’s world, America’s soft power is commonly thought to reside in the global popularity of Hollywood movies, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Starbucks. But the facts tell a different story.

In a recent poll involving 43 countries, 79 percent of those surveyed said that what they most admire about the United States is its leadership in science and technology. The artifacts of the American entertainment industry came in a distant second.