My definition of 'tough love' would be to make someone you care about uncomfortable, so that they see the need for a change that would benefit them. So how far would you take 'tough love?' Far enough to lead them out of the comfort zone!
I believe this concept should translate to many different circumstances. If an employee is consistently not complying with company policy or unproductive, a manager's 'tough love' would be to gradually decrease their comfort level while being clear about the desired behavior. In foreign policy, if a country is acting up they should gradually have sanctions increased on them while making the target behavior clear, until they come around.
Clear communication of needs is important, otherwise 'tough love' could be misinterpreted as aggression or antipathy. Trying to communicate empathy rather than antipathy when applying sanctions can be difficult and frustrating at times, and will take extra effort.
Let me switch tracks at this point and talk about 'insulation.' If you want someone to keep doing what they are doing, to not change their behavior you would 'insulate' them from their need to change.
"An increasingly prosperous, self-confident state felt truly united in August 1914, perhaps for the first time. Four years of war-- not only the bitter, pointless trench warfare, but also the long queues and hunger at home-- set Germans at each other's throats. Hitler's analysis-- as a former soldier in the trenches-- was that the World War I had been lost on the homefront. In order to be successful, the Nazi movement had to woo the German consumer in a way that he (and, in particular, she) wasn't during the First World War." (p. 27 of Seduced by Hitler, by Adam LeBor & Roger Boyes)
How did Hitler insulate his populace, to keep them compliant? One way was that he blamed any problems that Germany had on others, mainly the Jews. The German people were relieved of responsibility. Jewish possessions were confiscated and auctioned off at discount prices so that Germans were made more comfortable. Hitler actively promoted things to help the German people, like the Autobahn and the Volkswagen. To the German populace he was very upbeat in promoting personal excellence and acheivement. And he actively engaged in propaganda to further insulate the German people from the truth, and keep them in their comfort zone.
So the person like myself, that seeks the truth, has to ask himself some important questions. Are we being kept compliant, in a comfort zone? If we are, how? Here are some directions of thought to discover the answer to those questions:
1.) Are we making any sacrifices (rationing, for example) for the war effort, like we did in WWII? Or are we engaging in war profiteering instead? Link Link Link Link Link Link Link
2.) Are we blaming other people (many, but illegal aliens are a good example) for the problems we have? Link Link Link
3.) Are we experiencing propaganda in the news media? Link Link Link Link
By all means, don't make the mistake of thinking too much, if you want to be comfortable.
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