Soft Power in Asia Survey, 2008

This multicountry public opinion survey, conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in collaboration with the East Asia Institute (South Korea), examines the current and potential use of soft power in East Asia. This survey aimed to refine the concept of soft power, operationalize it into a measurable scientific variable, and contribute to the building of a database on soft power in Asia. For this survey, respondents were asked to examine topics such as the attractiveness of different national cultures and values, the effectiveness of nations as regional leaders and problem-solvers, the affinity of nations as trade partners, levels of human capital, attractiveness of educational institutions, and the emergence of regional identities. Participants also gave their opinions about the growing economic and political integration in East Asia and the impact this has on underlying regional tensions, including how likely there would be a military conflict in East Asia in the next ten years. Similarly, respondents answered queries regarding the economic, military, and political influence of China, Japan, and the United States in Southeast Asia, China and the United States as military threats to each other, China's rise as a leader in Asia, and the military presence of the United States in Asia. Further questions asked about the creation of a free trade area in China, Japan and South Korea, trade and investment among these nations, preferred economic systems, countries' willingness to promote democracy and human rights internationally, the use of diplomacy, and the respect for rule of law and sovereignty of other nations. Finally, participants gave their views on the leadership of international organizations, and the influence of one country's popular culture on another.

本多国公众舆论调查由芝加哥全球事务委员会与东亚研究院（韩国）合作进行，旨在探讨东亚地区当前及潜在的软实力运用情况。该调查旨在精炼软实力的概念，将其操作化为可测量的科学变量，并为亚洲软实力数据库的建设作出贡献。在此调查中，受访者被要求审视诸如不同国家文化和价值观的吸引力、国家作为地区领袖和问题解决者的有效性、国家作为贸易伙伴的亲和力、人力资本水平、教育机构的吸引力以及地区身份的兴起等话题。参与者还对东亚地区日益增长的经济和政治一体化及其对潜在地区紧张关系的影响发表了意见，包括未来十年内东亚爆发军事冲突的可能性。同样，受访者还就中国、日本和美国在东南亚的经济、军事和政治影响力、中国和美国作为彼此的军事威胁、中国作为亚洲领袖的崛起以及美国在亚洲的军事存在等问题作出了回答。此外，还询问了在中国、日本和韩国建立自由贸易区、这些国家间的贸易和投资、首选的经济体系、各国在国际上推广民主和人权意愿、外交政策和尊重其他国家法治和主权的使用等问题。最后，参与者就国际组织的领导力以及一个国家的流行文化对另一个国家的影响发表了观点。