By Business & Finance 
The term ‘smart power’ first entered political usage in the early ‘00s. It is essentially a combination of hard power and soft power strategies. Throughout her career, Hillary Clinton, who was 67th Secretary of State of the United States from January 2009 to February 2013, has been somewhat linked with the concept of smart power.
The term ‘smart power’ first entered political usage in the early ‘00s. The origin of the term is open to debate, with sources attributing its creation to both Suzanne Nossel, a former government official, and Joseph Nye, a political scientist.
It is essentially a combination of hard power and soft power strategies. Nye described smart power as “neither hard nor soft. It is both.”
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said it is “an approach that underscores the necessity of a strong military, but also invests heavily in alliances, partnerships, and institutions of all levels to expand one’s influence and establish legitimacy of one’s action.”
Smart power is, in essence, a blend of military strength and diplomatic dexterity, using economic, and developmental tools to advance both a nation’s interests while also addressing global challenges.
Throughout her career, Hillary Clinton, who was 67th Secretary of State of the United States from January 2009 to February 2013, has been somewhat linked with the concept of smart power. Indeed, a Time Magazine cover once linked her with the ‘rise of smart power’ and she discussed the phenomenon in her memoir about her time as Secretary of State.
In her confirmation testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, she said: “The best way to advance America’s interests in reducing global threats and seizing global opportunities is to design and implement global solutions
“We must use what has been called ‘smart power,’ the full range of tools at our disposal – diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal and cultural – picking the right tool or combination of tools for each situation. With smart power, diplomacy will be the vanguard of our foreign policy.”
She has often said she believes in using diplomacy over war to resolve international conflicts, and is conscious of the growing need to strengthen diplomacy alongside defence. She championed this notion throughout her time as Secretary of State.
Support for strengthening diplomacy and development alongside defence came in part from within the Pentagon during her tenure. Many recognised that terrorism and other transnational threats could not be solved by military force alone, a revelation to some.
In her 2014 memoir Hard Choices, Clinton explains that she embraced smart power because she believed the State Department in the 21st century had to move “beyond the traditional work of negotiating treaties and attending diplomatic conferences.” She argued that technology, public-private partnerships, energy policy, and economics could complement – not replace – traditional diplomatic tools.
Indeed, on arrival for her first day in the role, Clinton addressed Department employees by saying: “There are three legs to the stool of American foreign policy: defense, diplomacy, and development. And we are responsible for two of the three legs. And we will make clear, as we go forward, that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term objectives of the United States.
“And I will do all that I can, working with you, to make it abundantly clear that robust diplomacy and effective development are the best long-term tools for securing America’s future.”
As Secretary of State, Clinton travelled extensively to understand global issues. She fostered collaborations between world governments, businesses, and NGOs to tackle issues like health, food security, and women’s empowerment.
In 2010, she ended a trip to the Asia-Pacific region early to see firsthand the impact of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and to meet with President of Haiti René Préval.
She also supported global health programmes and food security efforts, building on initiatives established by her predecessors, such as PEPFAR, the US government’s malaria program.
Her success in diplomacy and her efforts on behalf of women’s rights and peace in Northern Ireland bear witness to the extraordinary efficacy of her use of smart power.
Sutherland Leadership Award
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton has been announced as the recipient of the 2025 Sutherland Leadership Award at the annual Business & Finance Leadership Awards taking place at the Convention Centre Dublin on Thursday, 11th December.
The Sutherland Leadership Award was established in 2018 to honour the legacy of Peter Sutherland, a transformative leader in European and global affairs, who served as Ireland’s Attorney General, European Commissioner for Competition, founding Director-General of the World Trade Organization, and UN Special Representative for International Migration.
The award celebrates individuals whose leadership and values reflect Sutherland’s vision of global cooperation, ethical governance, and human dignity. Past recipients include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, ECB President Christine Lagarde, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, José Manuel Barroso, Mario Draghi, Sir Nick Clegg, Henry (Hank) Paulson, and Dame Louise Richardson.
2025 table bookings for the Business & Finance Awards are open. Read more here.
