culture

22. Jan 2014

Farming is Ugly: Reform, Friction and Bishan Commune

China, culture, development, InFocus, politics, Rural development, Tourism

From 2014, Anhui Province will pilot a reform of the residential land market in China, thus integrating rural Anhui in the national housing market. On the opposite note, artist and activist Ou Ning has proposed the Bishan time money currency, intending to establish an alternative economic circuit in Bishan Village.     Bishan Village, Yi […]

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16. Jan 2013

Iqbal’s Pakistan! – The Country Ahead?

culture, InFocus, Islam, nationalism, Pakistan

                                                                                                 The term ‘Iqbal’s Pakistan’ is frequently used […]

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15. Oct 2012

Mo Yan på tryggt avstånd från politiken av Johan Lagerkvist

China, culture, democracy, government, Human rights, InFocus, International relations, literature, politics

Svenska Akademiens beslut att 2012 års Nobelpris i litteratur går till den kinesiske författaren Mo Yan är ett val som får enorm uppmärksamhet i Kina. Det är svårt att överskatta Nobelprisernas betydelse i ett land och en kultur där dessa utmärkelser – i synnerhet de naturvetenskapliga – varit stora nyheter alltsedan reformpolitiken inleddes 1978. I en […]

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28. Aug 2012

Incredible India Designs by Ravinder Kaur

culture, development, Globalization, India, InFocus, marketing, politics

In 2002, the government of India embarked upon a highly ambitious image campaign to create a new brand identity for the nation. The idea was to transform India into “a global brand, with worldwide brand recognition and strong brand equity” that will bring high end tourists and investors to the country. But how does one […]

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26. May 2012

Lady Gaga and the Fake Rolex Affair

culture, Indonesia, InFocus, Malaysia, Philippines, politics, pop music, Thailand

By Anya Palm This weekend’s big event in Bangkok was a concert with the colorful pop artist, Lady Gaga. The star is doing her “Born This Way Ball” 2012 tour in Asia, and while Lady Gaga is in the region purely to perform and entertain, her visit has stirred quite a bit of political attention. […]

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