Australia is not short of iconography that speaks of a strong national character and sense of place, be it a no-nonsense ruggedness or the boundless enigma of the outback. Monocle examines these symbolic shorthands and how…
A failed Italy and a Grimaldi household in shambles presents the perfect opportunity for a marriage of convenience between Liguria and Monaco in 2014. If it sounds like a storyline from our manga series, it might well be…
Italy has gifted the world so many great things but what are the quintessential qualities of the country itself? From sociable swimming hubs to unfussy mealtimes and enviable urban spaces, we choose our 10 favourite traits…
The island state is not used to letting people do anything they want and that means it’s been stuck with a moribund arts scene. But the new National Gallery aims to change perceptions of the country at home and abroad.…
One of the few unifying experiences in multi-lingual Switzerland is Rainer Maria Salzgeber’s TV coverage of the national football team’s matches. The presenter says the sport can help the nation become more tolerant of…
An explosion of state-funded English-language news channels are attempting to transmit not just the news but their country’s brand. From Moscow to Mumbai we report on the new broadcast empires and ask if this is just pro…
As their cutesy, cartoon profiles – and fanbases – continue to soar, Japan’s cuddly collection of corporate mascots has come to inhabit a central part of the nation’s identity. We meet these celebrated creations and the…
In world where everyone seems to dress the same something rather special is stirring in Bavaria, where young men are rediscovering the joys of lederhosen and women the upfront joys of the dirndl.
The national identity of countries can shift radically and at a speed that leaves their inhabitants gasping: think of the former Soviet Union. Here leading thinkers consider what might, or should, change in the way nations…
The Unravelled Kingdom:
As this issue opens on the theme of nation building and branding it makes sense to close on the topic and turn our attention to a brand bit closer to Monocle HQ – the UK.
The example of Ireland’s rise, fall and rise again is a shining light to those nations seeking to reposition their industry and reconnect with their previously skilled past.