Saturday, February 13, 2016

Week 7 - Vietnam - Andrew Tom

Up until this point we've analyzed examples of countries that have well defined approaches or strategies toward achieving a national aesthetic.  Vietnam and the Vietnamese diaspora both have a hand in crafting the Vietnamese national aesthetic, though the two groups may conflict on what that looks like ideologically.  I contend that the key to a realized Vietnamese national aesthetic is reconciling ideological differences between these two groups.  Economically, I feel both groups want improved education and economic growth for Vietnam, however their ideas diverge in the means of achieving it.  Much like China's economic ascension overseas between diasporic groups, I believe Vietnam can thrive from diasporic business partners abroad through compromise and sound economic policy.  I think the development of a sustained Vietnamese national aesthetic can overcome competing ideas for the political system of Vietnam by uniting Vietnamese people at home and abroad behind distinctly Vietnamese products and values - values that have persisted in diasporic communities to this day.  From a "brain drain" of talent and entrepreneurship from abroad, or government investment in a particular economic sector, Vietnam is poised to pursue options that shape its national image and cultural identity in the 21st century.


To this day, young diasporic Vietnamese students continue to organize in ethnically constituted community groups focused on celebrating Vietnamese values and defining an evolving Vietnamese identity.  However Vietnam decides to move forward in their development of a national aesthetic, it will involve a lengthy study of today's youth and what it means to be Vietnamese cross culturally and transnationally.

Valverde, Kieu-Linh Caroline. Transnationalizing Viet Nam: Community, Culture, and Politics in the Diaspora. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 2012. Print.

Nguyen, George, and Anna Sallibeer. "Issues in Transnational Higher Education Regulation in Vietnam." Issues in Transnational Higher Education Regulation in Vietnam. Web. 13 Feb. 2016.

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