Week 3 - Ushrayinee Sarker

When one thinks of France, one immediately aligns it with their views of refinement and high society. Cuisine, tourism, and fashion are all what seem like natural byproducts of the nation, but in actuality, the current state of government and nation branding is all due to carefully crafted planning.

King Louis the XIV as well as his minister Colbert, worked hard to make their vision of France be known to countries across the world. They focused on more liberal tactics, as well as working to make France more knowledgeable business-wise. Concentrating on a more self-sufficient country, France tried to depend less on imports from other countries and become known for their exports.

Another large factor to a lot of countries succeeding is how soon they allowed women their rights. Of course it’s a large factor in branding a nation; it also shows how liberal and progressive they are. While suffrage may have been looked down upon at the time, in hindsight it’s a good marker of the country’s views. France had allowed woman’s suffrage only 15 years after the US, in 1945. This may have been a marked point in the tourism and general view of the country.

To achieve maximum ‘national aesthetics’ status France could try to stay current and with the times, with both with their fashion and arts as well as their politics. France, while in history, known for science has been lacking in it recently. While they are one of the forefronts of the limited scientific industry, they could play up their role in the industry to gain a more positive aesthetic overall.

This method of rebranding could work with the nation of my choice as an increase of national aesthetics such as the arts would bring about tourism and a general liking for the country.

Question: Is a business oriented view the only way to rebrand a nation?

http://adrianliston.eu/blog/tag/europe