Description
This episode looks at the role of environmental policy as a component of international image and the question of whether countries are following corporations and ‘greenwashing’: laying claim to environmental reputations that they don’t deserve. Cases discussed include Australia, the US and the countries of the Middle East, stuck with a reliance of fossil fuel extraction. Simon argues that whatever the reality the simple fact of the conversation around sustainability is positive as it contributes to a global bandwagon effect by which taking care of the environment is universally expected. Simon also suggests that a middle tier of what he calls 'Hipster Nations' which emphasize the environment has now emerged -- New Zealand, Costa Rica, Chile, Slovenia and so forth -- and are changing the global conversation. Nick looks at the long arc of environmental issues in post-Cold War propaganda and wonders what issues emerging today will be critical to reputations in the future.
In this season finale Simon and Nick discuss the recently published findings of the 2022 version of the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index. The most noticeable result is that Russia has fallen from 27th place in 2021 to 58th, a dive unlike any other in the history of the index reflecting the...
Published 12/16/22
In this episode Nick and Simon discuss the shifting image of Africa, taking a lead from the latest version of the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index. Countries discussed include Egypt and Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana. Simon argues that external knowledge of culture is the...
Published 12/09/22