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Title of Article

Date of Issue

Focal Country/

Countries

Focus of Article

(politics, economy, social, etc.)

Brief Synopsis of article (one paragraph)

Of all the things you learned after reading this article, what one thing stands out the most? Why?

(Explain your thought process; paragraph form)

What is the most probing question you have about what you learned? Follow-on questions are good.

(Explain your thought process; paragraph form)

1

Falun Gong still worries China, despite efforts to crush the sect

In China the movement sputters on. Abroad its profile grows

Current print edition of The Economist:

Why startups are leaving Silicon Valley (released September 1, 2018)

China, Canada, England, United States

Politics, spirituality

This article discusses the persistence of Chinese spiritual cult Falun Gong, both in China and abroad. The anti-Communist group has been branded as “evil” by Chinese officials and was banned in 1999. However, Falun Gong is still considered to be one of the most organized Chinese anti-Communist movements, despite a study suggesting the cult’s numbers in China are only five percent of what they were when the group was founded. Falun Gong’s presence is also growing abroad: the group is located in New York and has marched through Washington, DC (Falun Gong’s founder also gave a speech in Washington this summer); a “Friends of Falun Gong” association exists in Canada; and cult followers created the Shen Yun Performing Arts group, which will travel to four continents next year. With this growing influence, Chinese diplomats have increased their efforts against Falun Gong and have worked to stop and arrest practitioners in London and Canada as well as China. However, the fight is still widely believed to be “a never-ending war of attrition.”

As I read this article, what initially drew me in was just how much influence Falun Gong has, both in China and abroad. Despite harsh restrictions and arrests, the cult is not only a formidable presence in China but a growing power in other countries as well. As I read about how Falun Gong has spread its ideals to other countries, this reminded me of our recent lectures about culture. More specifically, I thought of the “What is Culture?” video from the lecture videos for Chapter 2, and one of the definitions of culture mentioned in this video. That definition is “a set of beliefs or values held by a group of people within the borders of a country that constrain their behavior and that are passed down from generation to generation.” Also mentioned at this point in the video is how culture is something taught and learned. I saw immediate parallels between this video and the article: Falun Gong is a set of anti-Communist values held by its group, within the borders of China and other practicing countries; their behavior is dictated by anti-Communist practices and is passed down to new followers.” This was the set of realizations that occurred to me after I read, with my biggest takeaway being that culture can have many different sub-interpretations and can take on many different forms. Despite overarching national cultures, other ideals can, and do, still exist and survive.

I was so fascinated by the continual, growing influence of Falun Gong despite intense efforts by China’s government to suppress it, that it led me to wonder: Will “extreme” beliefs and ideals, such as those held by cult groups, ever truly be extinguished? So long as the ideas are still held by individuals and continue to be passed on, then there will always be someone who follows and practices those beliefs. From there, I have to wonder what it would take to fully extinguish such a movement. As we have been discussing in class, core values are values that people hold that are essential to their identity and that are very difficult to change. The practices of Falun Gong are, I would assume, core values to members of the cult. What would it take to change the beliefs of these members? In general, how can core beliefs be swayed or changed? Going into the more general thought of how core beliefs can potentially be changed, it also leads me to think about business practices in general, as well as conducting business in accordance with core beliefs. How can a particular company best market their products or services in different countries in accordance with different core values, while still maintaining their brand image?

2

Naked Europe covers up

The home continent of public nakedness is growing more body-shy

Current print edition of The Economist:

Why startups are leaving Silicon Valley (released September 1, 2018)

The Netherlands, Germany, France, Scandinavia (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and others)

Social,

politics

In this article, the shift in European countries from embracing nudity to being more conservative is discussed. Sunbathing topless, unisex nude saunas, and other nudist resorts have declined in Europe in recent years; a study of French women found only 22% of them sunbathed topless in 2017 as compared to 43% in 1984. Reasons for the shift toward European modesty are described as political (an increased number of Muslims immigrating into Europe) as well as social. Many younger Europeans have become more self-conscious of their bodies due to social media, and the rise of the #MeToo movement worldwide has also impacted how Europeans feel they should present themselves and interact with others. Changes to technology (the rise of smartphones with cameras) is also cited as a reason why being nude in public is considered riskier and is not as widely accepted. A general gripe about nudity being overly sexualized today is also described as a deterrent for European nudists.

What stands out the most to me after reading this article is how strong social media’s impact has been on the shift toward modesty in Europe - or in other words, social media’s ability to change social norms. Nudity has always been central to European culture, or at least an element associated with many European countries. I am again reminded of our recent class discussions about culture, more specifically about informal institutions or norms (behaviors accepted and understood as normal within members of a society). With this considered, reading about Europeans who are now questioning their confidence and changing their norms (rejecting nudity) is so fascinating to me. What strikes me about this aspect of the issue is how some Europeans are seemingly basing their desire to be in the nude on the picturesque bodies they see on social media, when in fact these images do not represent the typical body, and the images are also often edited to look more desirable. The negative effects social media can have on people’s confidence levels are something I already know about; what is interesting to read about is how these same negative effects are also felt in other countries. Even though I figured social media has the same impact on people’s confidence worldwide, it is interesting to see just how much of an impact it truly has.

My biggest question upon finishing this article is: Will Europe’s shift away from nudity and toward modesty have an effect on how other countries worldwide perceive and handle nudity? The #MeToo movement was mentioned as a contributing factor to Europe shying away from nudity, and I know this has been a powerful movement in many other countries as well. Considering this, I have to wonder if other countries may begin to hold similar views to those held in Europe, and have even stronger opinions against nudity. In addition, how could businesses in other countries be impacted if they also begin to view nudity or showing more skin differently? For instance, could employee uniforms and company dress codes become more modest worldwide? Would more modest clothing styles (such as long pants or skirts and higher necklines) come more into fashion? From there, would this also affect the types of clothing available for sale by retailers (would there be a wider range of more conservative styles as compared to more “revealing” clothing)? Or, is it possible that Europe’s decision to become more modest could have the complete opposite effect on how other countries perceive nudity? Could this cause other countries to instead defend notions of body positivity and embrace wearing whatever makes someone feel most comfortable (even if it means showing more skin)?

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