Soft balancing refers to the use of non-military tools and strategies to counterbalance or reduce the influence and power of a dominant state or rival in international relations. Soft balancing focuses on diplomatic, economic, and institutional considerations. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an example of a soft balancing policy by providing an alternative platform to the dominance of the United States. It emphasizes the use of non-military tools to correct imbalances.

• Anadi, S. (2023). New Regionalism and Norm Creation: A Case of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Journal of Strategic Security, 17(1), 1–19.