Opener: The soft sell

Welcome to Monocle's bumper-sized double issue, focusing on soft power and asking which countries are making the most of their cultural and business assets.

Soft power survey: Tender is the might

Monocle has indexed the top 30 soft power nations, which have achieved their status through natural resources combined with creative, modern thinking.

Soft power survey: 01: USA

The US is still a major hard-power player and its corporations indulge in bullish muscle-flexing. But the US has bagged the top spot in our Soft Power Survey.

Soft power survey: 03: France

The once dominant creative empire is trying to stay relevant

Soft power survey: 02: UK

Despite austerity, British cultural reach is huge and still well-loved

Soft power survey: 04: Germany

A robust economic base, wielded very softly.

Soft power survey: 05: Australia

Smart thinking has added to vast natural reserves of soft power

Soft power survey: 06: Sweden

Handsome, hi-tech, healthy and a chance of more than meatballs

Soft power survey: 07: Japan

Goodwill to all Japanese – thanks largely to a dynamic pop culture

Soft power survey: 08: Switzerland

You’re in safe hands at a Swiss embassy, but the nation has lost its shine

Soft power survey: 09: Canada

An undefined identity, but a gentle influence on world affairs

Soft power survey: 10: Netherlands

Tolerant, progressive… if only the Dutch could ditch the extreme right

Soft power survey: 11: Norway

A nation that’s much softer than it ever lets the world know

Soft power survey: 12: Denmark

Green and potentially no longer mean (in the eyes of Muslims)

Soft power survey: 13: Spain

Once tinged with terror and fascism, Spain is sunny and cool again

Soft power survey: 14: South Korea

A wizz with technology and now the pop powerhouse of Asia

Soft power survey: 15: Finland

The driven Finns can teach the world a thing or two

Soft power survey: 16: Italy

Cultural style and natural beauty – all knowingly undersold

Soft power survey: 17: New Zealand

Low on brands, high on beauty and in between on political influence

Soft power survey: 18: Austria

If Freud were alive today, he might help his nation find itself

Soft power survey: 20: China

It’s a matter of freedom and control – and the scales are out of balance

Soft power survey: 19: Belgium

Can edgy creative exports outweigh a hefty image problem?

Soft power survey: And the last 10...

With an expanded survey this year we made room for five more countries.

Soft power survey: How we did this survey

How do you measure “culture”?

Soft power nation: Clean break - Canada

A new robust approach to diplomatic relations marks a break with tradition for Canada.

Briefing: 2012 Forecast: Politics

France could defy Europe's broad shift to the right by voting in a left-wing president

Briefing: 2012 Forecast: Environment

Though American manufacturers use bamboo to make products ranging from flooring to jeans, the US relies heavily on imports from Asia

Briefing: Story 2012: Urbanism

Property developers in Mumbai are ploughing €1.4bn into the city’s last major swathe of undeveloped land

Briefing: Story 2012: Transport

China is in the midst of a massive buildup in its aerospace manufacturing sector

The interview series: Talking heads - 01: Abdullah Gul

Monocle interviews five political leaders from some of the world’s most volatile regions

The interview series: Talking heads - 02: Hassan bin Talal

Prince Hassan of Jordan has found the opportunity to voice his vision of an engaged and inclusive regional future

The interview series: Talking heads - 03: Juan Manuel Santos

Colombia’s president looks at new challenges and patching up regional feuds

The interview series: Talking heads - 04: Guy Scott

Guy Scott, vice-president of Zambia, gets a buzz out of shattering the tranquility of his leafy Lusaka suburb

The interview series: Talking heads - 05: Shelly Yechimov

Shelly Yechimovich's meteoric ascent inside Israel's Labor party peaked in September, when she was elected to lead the party

Affairs Report: Rocket City - USA

Huntsville, Alabama is a global player in the defence and aerospace industries but in order to ensure its economic future it must diversify

Affairs Essays: 01: For immigration

Monocle’s editors, writers and correspondents look ahead to 2012 and beyond

Affairs Essays: 02: It's not that simple

In the age of the soundbite, the person with the pithy 10-word answer is the person who wins the argument

Affairs Essays: 04: It's what's inside

Luxury houses from Smythson to Valextra to Hermès, have all come to the aid of the padders

Affairs Essays: 05: Rules for dictators

What makes a dictator successful?

Affairs Essays: 06: Good sport

When the Olympics comes to London in July 2012 the famous faces and the blue-riband events will be the ones which attract the attention

Affairs Essays: 07: US politics

The 2012 US election looks reassuringly like the last one

Affairs Essays: 08: Now they're gone

For a certain class of spectator of foreign affairs the passing of Colonel Gaddafi is a loss, of sorts

Affairs Essays: 10: Flag waving

From Tunis to Homs it’s been a very good 12 months for seamstressesFrom Tunis to Homs it’s been a very good 12 months for seamstresses

Affairs Essays: 11: Iron filing

The value of a small manufacturer/retailer in the neighbourhood shouldn’t be underestimated

Affairs Essays: 12: China's leaders

The Communist Party is set to decide who the new leadership will be for the next five years

Affairs Essays: 13: Russia's leaders

Only a natural disaster or an act of God will prevent Vladimir Putin from returning to the Kremlin in May 2012

Affairs Essays: 14: War reporters

We need war reporters for the same reason we need eyes: to see

Affairs Essays: 15: The zzzz Factor

The television talent show has taken over the world

Soft power nation: Ethics work - Germany

Germany’s economic status exceeds its place in the world power order

Business Report: All hail - Global

The iconic London black cab is being adopted across the world, from Azerbaijan to Italy

Business Briefing: Business

With such a wealth of good restaurants, hawker stands and food-courts across the city Singaporeans don’t need to

Business Report: Flying patients - Global

Monocle looks at the global hotspots attracting patients wanting anything from hi-tech surgery to a facelift

Soft power nation: Dream export - Turkey

The burgeoning soft power of the nation that straddles the East-West divide is rooted in its flourishing drama production industry

Views from the pros: Creative futures - Global

We’ve asked five artists, musicians and writers to tell us what they’ll be up to in the coming year

Culture Report: XXI marks the spot - Paris

The success of ‘XXI’ magazine has proven that readers do not need much persuasion to pay for beautifully presented, long-form journalism

Culture Calendar: Books

Pages to turn

Culture Calendar: Music

Future sounds

Culture Calendar: Visual Arts

Top exhibits

Culture Calendar: Film

Cinema treats

Soft power nation: Brand Britain - London

London has had some bad press but with the Olympics ahead, can its burgeoning design scene save the day?

Fashion Briefing: Paris Patch

Monocle's fashion briefing.

Design Report: Top tenn - Sweden

Stockholm’s Svenskt Tenn has had its one and only homewares shop at the same location for 84 years.

Design Report: Turning the tables - Shanghai

At China’s International Furniture Expo, Furniture Labo launched its Stellar Works collection.

Design Report: Isolated state - Sweden

On a trip to the northern Swedish archipelago, with just a few essentials, Monocle discovers an island bolthole perfect for recharging depleted batteries.