The term "soft power" refers to

A) any unsuccessful attempt by one nation to influence another.
B) military tactics and technologies that are designed to minimize civilian causalities.
C) efforts by one nation to influence the people and governments of other nations by persuasion rather than coercion.
D) any policy tool that has declined in influence over time.

Soft power refers to the ability of a country to influence other countries through non-coercive means, like cultural exchange, diplomacy, and economic aid. Soft power is often contrasted with hard power, which involves the use of military force or economic sanctions to achieve political goals. Soft power is an important tool in international relations, especially for countries that do not have strong military or economic power.