The Soft Power Approach to Ship Sanitation

Abstract

Soft power is a geopolitics concept that implies achieving what one wants through non-coercitive measures. In the context of ship sanitation, port health authorities can provide “hard” and coercitive mandates, and also non-coercitive recommendations. Herein we examine the presence of soft power in ship sanitation literature, the advantages and limitations of hard power, and the importance of the legal framework. Soft power often requires investing time in dialogue and mutual understanding and maintaining a good image; but in any case in the context of ship sanitation awareness and collaboration of all involved parts is necessary for long-term success. To conclude we recommend a careful combination of hard power and soft power.

Keywords

• soft power
• ship sanitation
• inspection
• legal compliance