soft power
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Fresh Minsk
Often called Europe’s last dictatorship, Belarus has embarked on a PR mission to fix its image. With its strong-armed leadership still in place, are the changes anything more than cosmetic?
Hit factory
Despite years of turbulence between Taiwan and China, this island’s pop culture leaves the mainland standing. From idols to protest singers via television talent shows, Taipei pop is the country’s new heavy industry.
Observation
How can a nation get its voice heard on the world stage? If you lack resources and numbers, perhaps it’s time to wield some ‘soft power’ to encourage trade and tourism. By Tyler Brûlé.
Peace and prosperity
While Mosul burns, Arbil booms: Iraqi Kurdistan's capital courts Western business, oil money and $110,000 cars, proving that autonomy, security and ancient trading instincts still pay dividends.
National Pride
Security concerns created the bunker-style embassy. But it doesn't have to be that way. Monocle surveys diplomatic designs that nations can be proud of, and imagines one of its own.
Asia
China's negative image and we scrutinise the stuffy wardrobe of its president, Hu Jintao.
Africa/Middle East
Syrian first lady Adma Al-Assad's outfits; wine-tasting classes for poor South Africans.
Gulf champions
Qatar may be small, but with a GDP of €46bn it has money to pull off miracles. Its latest plan is to become a leading sports nation and host the 2016 Olympics.
National expression
There are many ways for a nation to build international brand equity. From winning Olympic medals to becoming a travel hub, the options are plentiful but the results are not always guaranteed.
Presenting the nation
A boom in state-funded English news channels aims to transmit a country’s brand alongside the news. We report on these new broadcast empires and ask if it's propaganda disguised as programming.
