This study examines the discursive development of the viral online phenomenon known by the hashtag #swedengate. Having originally revolved around Swedish dinner customs, the discussion and the meaning of ‘Swedengate’ soon came to encompass more serious themes, including various forms of criticism directed at Sweden. Due to the political significance such a development could imply, this study aims to map the renegotiation of meaning of the phenomenon over time and analyze it using a discourse theoretical framework. Moreover, to reflect upon the political aspect of such renegotiation, by contrasting Swedengate to literature on hashtag politics, virality and nation branding. Empirically, the study draws on Twitter hashtag data that represents concurrent hashtag usage related to the hashtag #swedengate within a time span of 39 weeks. Using social network analysis, this data is visualized and presented as a network graph offering a discursive and temporal representation of the interaction that is constitutive of Swedengate. With reference to several of Laclau and Mouffe's key concepts, the analysis shows that the graph can be understood as an articulation process, within which the hashtag #sweden functions as a floating signifier whose meaning is negotiated upon by various antagonistically positioned discourses. As a result of the floating signifier being articulated differently and through the formation of equivalence chains, the meaning of Swedengate came to include everything from vaccine skepticism to criticism of the Swedish government. Consequently, the study discusses the possibility of phenomenon such as Swedengate being exploited by actors with a specific political ambition.

This thesis explores the potential of Nigerian popular music as an approach to nation branding. The study employs qualitative content analysis to analyze select Nigerian music genres to examine how Nigeria is portrayed to international audiences and the economic benefits that can be derived from this form of branding. The analysis focuses on narrative themes of “the value of hard work,” “ethnic pride,” “lavish lifestyle,” and the impact of differences which were derived from the data. Findings indicate that Nigeria is globally reckoned for its musical prowess and rich cultural heritage. In highlighting the role of music in Nigeria’s political processes, the research demonstrates a growing sense of national identity and political awareness among the masses, thereby making a case for accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s governance. Additionally, music emerges as one of the major contributors to Nigeria’s economy, serving as a powerful tool for visibility and attracting foreign investments.

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This thesis examines the extent to which European journalistic coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) supports the nation branding of individual countries, focusing on Ukraine's participation during 2016 and 2022. Through an analysis of 16 selected articles from British and Swedish media outlets, the study investigates how Swedish and British media outlets report on how Ukraine's portrayal in the ESC contributes to its nation branding efforts. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks of strategic narrative and nation branding, the research explores two main questions: To what extent does media coverage support Ukraine's nation branding in the ESC? And has there been any change in coverage since 2016? Furthermore, the study reflects on why nation branding within the profession of journalism has become accepted and not questioned, examining the implications for the profession and its role in society. Through a qualitative narrative analysis based on the concept of framing, two distinct narratives were revealed: "Ukraine's Resistance Against Oppression and Invasion" and "Support and Solidarity from Europe." The findings demonstrate differences in reporting between Swedish and British media, with shifts in focus observed between 2022 and 2016. This study underscores the role of media in shaping perceptions and nation branding, offering insights into the dynamics of strategic narratives and media influence, and the evolving role of journalism in society.

<p>Problem: The authors have, during the process of development of this thesis, tried to create an understanding of how a number of organizations, all working with different approaches around the ”brand Sweden”, perceive the efficiency and benefits of using extended concept around embassies as a tool in their strategic work. The embassies in question have an evolved concept in the sense that they don not only hold a traditional political and legal role. The problem facing us authors was the issue whether theses embassies are efficient arenas to coordinate the forces and resources of the organizations concerned, in the mission to enhance the visibility and awareness of Sweden abroad.</p><p>Purpose: The purpose is to describe the strategic work with marketing Sweden to be able to look in to whether the evolved concept behind the embassies in question are used as a tool in within the work of the organizations. We wish to research this to be able to evaluate if this arena is perceived as efficient for the organizations concerned.</p><p>Method: In order to get a background to which one establish and communicate a nations brand the authors have studied literature within the subject. The collection of primary data has been conducted in form of interview with representatives from the involved organizations, on which the theories later been applied in an analysis. With this data as a base the authors have proceeded with further studies and researches.</p><p>Result: In an increasingly globalized world characterized by competition, it is hard for a country to stand out and be perceived as attractive. Therefore the evolved concept around embassies is useful tool for the organizations concerned. This conclusion can be made, in the light of how the organizations structure their strategic work, how the embassies are used as a tool in their work, and how the organizations perceive the benefits they get from their cooperation with the embassies.</p> / <p>Problem: I vårt arbete har vi försökt skapa oss en bild av hur ett antal aktörer, som på olika sätt genom sina respektive uppdrag arbetar med varumärket Sverige, själva upplever effektiviteten och nyttan av ett utvecklade konceptet runt ambassaderna i Berlin och Washington D.C. Ambassadernas roll har där breddats till att inrymma ett vidare syfte än att bara vara en politisk och juridisk arena. Vi har velat ta reda på om dessa ambassadkomplex är effektiva arenor för att samordna krafterna för att öka den svenska synligheten i utlandet.</p><p>Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att beskriva det strategiska arbetet med marknadsföringen av Sverige samt att undersöka hur det vidareutvecklade konceptet kring ambassaderna används som ett redskap i detta arbete. Detta för att kunna bedöma om denna arena upplevs vara effektiv för berörda aktörer.</p><p>Metod: För att få en bakgrund till hur man etablerar och kommunicerar ett lands varumärke har uppsats¬författarna studerat litteratur inom ämnet. Som primärdata har uppsatsförfattarna genomfört intervjuer, vilka sedan har analyserats i förhållande till de vetenskapliga teorierna. Utifrån denna information har även vidare forskning och undersökning har gjorts.</p><p>Resultat: För att ett land ska upplevas som attraktivt i en allt mer globaliserad värld, präglad av hård konkurrens, är det utvecklade konceptet runt ambassaderna en hjälp för våra aktörer. Denna slutsats kan man dra då man ser till strukturen på aktörernas strategiska arbete, hur ambassaden används som ett redskap och de intryck samt de upplevelser som aktörerna har fått genom sitt samarbete med ambassaderna.</p>

Although tourism has been recognised as an important subfield in nation branding little research have focused on its role in the nation branding process. A managerial perspective was assumed to examine what role tourism has in nation branding. This study adopts a deductive approach reviewing existing literature on nation branding, brand management strategies and tourism stakeholders. A case study on how tourism is integrated in nation branding strategies and how stakeholders operating in the tourism sector perceive their own influence on the nation-brand was conducted in Sweden using a qualitative method. Data was collected through interviews with managers in organisations that directly or indirectly work with tourism while being involved in the strategic nation branding of Sweden. A conceptual framework was developed to illustrate how the nation-brand is created and communicated through tourism. The study concludes that tourism can have a significant role in nation branding and affect other subfields if the right circumstances are given. Strong collaborations are a prerequisite for effective nation branding and strategies should incorporate national identity and country-of-origin for authenticity. Future research could focus on comparing the role of tourism in nation branding with other subfields as well as comparing how organisations on the same level work with nation branding strategies.

<p>ABSTRACT</p><p>Title: The Image of Sweden - A study of the Swedish Embassy’s Nation Branding and Public Diplomacy in Germany</p><p>Number of pages: 46 (57 including enclosures)</p><p>Author: Heidi Marie Nömm</p><p>Tutor: Göran Svensson</p><p>Course: Media and Communication Studies C Level – Bachelor’s Thesis.</p><p>Period: Autumn term 2006/2007</p><p>University: Division of Media and Communication Department of Information Science Uppsala University</p><p>Purpose/Aim: The purpose of my research study is to examine how the press, culture and PR department at the Swedish Embassy in Berlin is organising its external communication of Swedish affairs and “branding” Sweden as an attractive and competitive nation in Germany. My research objective is therefore to investigate the nature of the Embassy’s Nation Branding by means of one specific media channel, which is the Embassy’s German website, in order to find out how Sweden’s nation brand is communicated according to my chosen theory.</p><p>Material/Method: The method of analysis is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods: a qualitative interview in terms of collecting information about the Embassy’s external communication, as well as a quantitative content analysis of the Embassy’s German website. Furthermore I’m making use of secondary data from previous research, various articles and several information sources from the Internet.</p><p>Main results: On the basis of the results I have gained by dint of the content analysis, it can be concluded that the Embassy’s German website foregrounds and focuses on communicating cultural topics, whereas political and governmental issues are being undermined. Hence, the website shows an uneven representation of Anholt’s nation brand key areas which denote that it is communicating a too one-sided and unbalanced picture of a national image, thus Sweden’s nation brand.</p><p>Keywords: Nation Branding, Public Diplomacy, external communication, content analysis, case study, Swedish Embassy Berlin, channel of communication, information flow.</p>

<p>Globalization abates barriers and makes the world similar, but also leads countries to perform like companies seeking and competing for global capitals. In this competition the „nation brand‟ becomes a critical tool to stand out and attract any sort of foreign investments. In this research, the factors which affect the nation brand, presented in the Anholt´s hexagon model, will be tested through the combination of theory on nation branding and empirical data. The study analyzes how different organizations affect and promote the commercial image of Spain in Sweden. Up to seven entities susceptible to affect the brand Spain were analyzed; the ICEX, the economic and commercial office of Spain in Stockholm, the embassy of Spain in Stockholm, Invest in Spain, the Elcano Royal institute, the Hispanic-Swedish chamber of commerce in Madrid and the Swedish trade council in Madrid. The study also presents an outline of the current context of the brand Spain and its projection in Sweden, as well as an overview on the trade relationship between both countries. The individual commitment of most of the organizations investigated, under the guidance of the Ministry of foreign affairs and the Ministry of industry, tourism, and trade of Spain, appears as one of the main findings. Despite the limited scope of this investigation, the relative novelty of this field of study leaves room for further research in different directions, questioning those who claim that globalization threats local diversity.</p>

ABSTRACT Title: The Image of Sweden - A study of the Swedish Embassy’s Nation Branding and Public Diplomacy in Germany Number of pages: 46 (57 including enclosures) Author: Heidi Marie Nömm Tutor: Göran Svensson Course: Media and Communication Studies C Level – Bachelor’s Thesis. Period: Autumn term 2006/2007 University: Division of Media and Communication Department of Information Science Uppsala University Purpose/Aim: The purpose of my research study is to examine how the press, culture and PR department at the Swedish Embassy in Berlin is organising its external communication of Swedish affairs and “branding” Sweden as an attractive and competitive nation in Germany. My research objective is therefore to investigate the nature of the Embassy’s Nation Branding by means of one specific media channel, which is the Embassy’s German website, in order to find out how Sweden’s nation brand is communicated according to my chosen theory. Material/Method: The method of analysis is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods: a qualitative interview in terms of collecting information about the Embassy’s external communication, as well as a quantitative content analysis of the Embassy’s German website. Furthermore I’m making use of secondary data from previous research, various articles and several information sources from the Internet. Main results: On the basis of the results I have gained by dint of the content analysis, it can be concluded that the Embassy’s German website foregrounds and focuses on communicating cultural topics, whereas political and governmental issues are being undermined. Hence, the website shows an uneven representation of Anholt’s nation brand key areas which denote that it is communicating a too one-sided and unbalanced picture of a national image, thus Sweden’s nation brand. Keywords: Nation Branding, Public Diplomacy, external communication, content analysis, case study, Swedish Embassy Berlin, channel of communication, information flow.

Problem: The authors have, during the process of development of this thesis, tried to create an understanding of how a number of organizations, all working with different approaches around the ”brand Sweden”, perceive the efficiency and benefits of using extended concept around embassies as a tool in their strategic work. The embassies in question have an evolved concept in the sense that they don not only hold a traditional political and legal role. The problem facing us authors was the issue whether theses embassies are efficient arenas to coordinate the forces and resources of the organizations concerned, in the mission to enhance the visibility and awareness of Sweden abroad. Purpose: The purpose is to describe the strategic work with marketing Sweden to be able to look in to whether the evolved concept behind the embassies in question are used as a tool in within the work of the organizations. We wish to research this to be able to evaluate if this arena is perceived as efficient for the organizations concerned. Method: In order to get a background to which one establish and communicate a nations brand the authors have studied literature within the subject. The collection of primary data has been conducted in form of interview with representatives from the involved organizations, on which the theories later been applied in an analysis. With this data as a base the authors have proceeded with further studies and researches. Result: In an increasingly globalized world characterized by competition, it is hard for a country to stand out and be perceived as attractive. Therefore the evolved concept around embassies is useful tool for the organizations concerned. This conclusion can be made, in the light of how the organizations structure their strategic work, how the embassies are used as a tool in their work, and how the organizations perceive the benefits they get from their cooperation with the embassies. / Problem: I vårt arbete har vi försökt skapa oss en bild av hur ett antal aktörer, som på olika sätt genom sina respektive uppdrag arbetar med varumärket Sverige, själva upplever effektiviteten och nyttan av ett utvecklade konceptet runt ambassaderna i Berlin och Washington D.C. Ambassadernas roll har där breddats till att inrymma ett vidare syfte än att bara vara en politisk och juridisk arena. Vi har velat ta reda på om dessa ambassadkomplex är effektiva arenor för att samordna krafterna för att öka den svenska synligheten i utlandet. Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att beskriva det strategiska arbetet med marknadsföringen av Sverige samt att undersöka hur det vidareutvecklade konceptet kring ambassaderna används som ett redskap i detta arbete. Detta för att kunna bedöma om denna arena upplevs vara effektiv för berörda aktörer. Metod: För att få en bakgrund till hur man etablerar och kommunicerar ett lands varumärke har uppsats¬författarna studerat litteratur inom ämnet. Som primärdata har uppsatsförfattarna genomfört intervjuer, vilka sedan har analyserats i förhållande till de vetenskapliga teorierna. Utifrån denna information har även vidare forskning och undersökning har gjorts. Resultat: För att ett land ska upplevas som attraktivt i en allt mer globaliserad värld, präglad av hård konkurrens, är det utvecklade konceptet runt ambassaderna en hjälp för våra aktörer. Denna slutsats kan man dra då man ser till strukturen på aktörernas strategiska arbete, hur ambassaden används som ett redskap och de intryck samt de upplevelser som aktörerna har fått genom sitt samarbete med ambassaderna.