Question

* Using relevant examples, explain the similarities and differences between "Soft Power" and "Structural Power"

Answer 1

The main differences between soft power and structural power

Introduction

Power may be defined as an ability, quality, position or a status that creates an influence on others and drives their actions.
There are various ways for imparting influence , the one can be threatening them and making use of the status , the other is to induce them through incentives and benefits and the third is to attract them through one's skills.

Differences:
Soft power can be defined as the that form of power which makes use of attraction , agreement , affection , dedication , care ,support and cooperation to influence the employees towards a common goal
While as structural power is the method of integrating both the hard and soft power to drive the action of followers by making use of political , social , economical , and ideological structures.

Soft power shapes the individual through attracting and motivating them while structural power shapes the individual through directing and instructing them.

The basis of soft power is ethics , values , culture and beliefs.
The basis of structural power is systematic interaction between and amongst the societies based on the ideological values , beliefs etc.

The soft power aims at co-opting people through inspiring them so that they do what you desire while structural power aims at inducing people through payments , benefits , and incentives etc

Soft power makes use of one's convincing skills to drive the actions while structural power makes use of a particular predetermined pattern or sequence.

Similarities between soft power and structural power

Both the powers are used for changing and influencing the opinions , thinking and attitudes of people to drive them in one's favour to get a desired outcome

Both the powers aim at directing economic and political force as well as the ideological forces like ideas, values and beliefs on the other.

Both the soft as well as structural power is used to attain a desired goal.

Examples of soft power and structural power

Democratic Leadership or charismatic leadership is the best example of soft power where the individuals are influenced by inspiring ,convincing, guiding, supervising them towards a a particular path or direction for mutual gains.

Employee benefit policy or performance appraisal in the profit based organisations are the best examples of structural power which involves attracting through incentives, payments etc.

Good luck

Hope it helps :) :)