"Soft Power" in Roman Mediterranean Imperialism, 3rd-1st centuries BC

Soft power is a contemporary term, created by Joseph Nye. It is "intangible power resources such as culture, ideology, and institutions ... in contrast to ... military and economic strength" (Nye 1990: 32). This is widely used in contemporary politics.

In this thesis, I argue that the Romans were able to establish their empire also through the use of soft power, which Cicero termed vis benevolentiae. I will analyse how the Romans took control of Mediterranean states using economic channels, expertise networks, and sociopolitical influences, including relationships between Roman individuals and foreign politicians. This approach allowed many states to fall under the Roman sphere of influence without the need for military force.

While my primary focus is on the soft power strategies employed by Rome, I recognise that hard power was also present in contemporary contexts. However, my analysis will concentrate on the mechanisms of soft power that facilitated Roman expansion, acknowledging but not extensively studying the role of hard power.