Week 10 - Naomi Almanzor

Question: Consider Viet Nam as a case study for National Aesthetics. What may be a plausible branding, product that reflects Viet Nam's aesthetics, and which group(s) (inter)nationally could help facilitate Viet Nam's development.

Because the diaspora was such a big factor in carrying the country forward through factors such as remittances, perhaps a brand of a nation that takes care of its students, and products such as more widespread, better-funded programs, for students both domestic and abroad may reflect Viet Nam’s aesthetic of a nation with increasing ties to its diasporic population (Valverde). As for domestic-based students, the flaws in communication, regulation, and innovation with foreign institutions and the consequences suffered by students as a result, show a potential in improving these aspects in higher education management to help build this brand further (Nguyen). This may also assist in building a steadier bond between future or younger generations and Viet Nam with the knowledge that support is available from their home country.

Also, the prospective replacement of commodities like rice and coffee by “new exports and labor-intensive manufactures” may be assisted by the further development and advancement of transnational higher education in Viet Nam (Pincus). The curricula and training based on other nations that have resources better suited to these particular industries, along with nations or areas that have adopted the same moderate-liberal model in domestic-based foreign education such as Hong Kong and Singapore may also help Viet Nam increase their focus on education and assist in their economic development by reducing their reliance on imports.

My Question: Is relying on the diasporic population a common method of growth for developing countries?

Sources

Image: https://www.vietnammanufacturingexpo.com/

Nguyen G., Shillabeer A. (2013) Issues in Transnational Higher Education Regulation in Vietnam. In: Mandal P. (eds) Proceedings of the International Conference on Managing the Asian Century. Springer, Singapore

Pincus, J. "Why Doesn’t Vietnam Grow Faster?: State Fragmentation and the Limits of Vent for Surplus Growth." Journal of Southeast Asian Economies (JSEAE), vol. 32 no. 1, 2015, pp. 26-51. Project MUSE, muse.jhu.edu/article/580398.

Valverde, Kieu-Linh Caroline. Transnationalizing Viet nam: community, culture, and politics in the diaspora. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2012.