Soft Power
Brand France makes its LA 2028 Olympics play with sun, sport and savoir-faire
By planting its Olympic clubhouse on Santa Monica’s shoreline, France is turning the 2028 Games into a stage for cultural influence as much as sporting success.
Latest
Spheres of influence
Monocle’s editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, reflects on nations’ efforts to ensure our security and bind us together in a time of great change.
Creative resistance
The outbreak of war could have spelt the end for these Ukrainian businesses but the women running them are refusing to give up – and proving to be soft-power players.
Top draw
Artist Pierre-Yves Berhin (nom de plume 'Hamo') draws us in to the animated tale of how 'bande dessinées' became a bastion of soft power for Francophone storytellers and beloved by readers of all ages.
The Opener
Protest music in Iceland, the UK talks turkey and why some authors get cabin fever.
Affairs
The stories you should be paying attention to – and the ones you might have missed.
Say it with flowers
The Japanese garden kickstarting global peace talks, working from home in Barbados and why Russia’s isolation on the world stage is a conscious choice.
Local heroes
Independent shops from Hong Kong to Madrid prove that knowing customers by name and fostering genuine community connections remains the foundation of thriving neighbourhood businesses.
