You are to do extensive background research on your country. Statistics such as population, GDP, per capita income, unemployment, education levels, inflation rates, and size of the military are expected to be included, but also go below the surface to generate real understanding of lifestyles in the country. Not only discuss religion (i.e., predominantly Catholic) but also discuss the role that religion plays in the lives of the people. For example, both France and Chile are predominantly Catholic countries, but the role of religion is far, far more extensive in Chile. What is the official (and unofficial) status of abortion? What is the product mix encountered in their most frequented retail outlets? Do wholesalers deliver goods to retailers, or is a cash-and-carry system predominant? Discuss the countrys history in depth. What subcultural groups reside there? Are relationships among subcultures friendly? Are there frictions with nearby countries? Why? An enjoyable source of insight about culture is movies, and you are encouraged to discuss insights learned from watching relevant movies. For instance, should you select Australia or South Africa, you might view BREAKER MORANT, about Aussie soldiers in South Africa in the Boer War. It captures well the British role as colonialists.In addition to the extensive search, interview at least (preferably more) one individual (per student in a group of two) from the country (for example, an international student at UNL) or someone who has spent an extensive amount of time there (over one year, fairly recently). The more interviews you conduct, the better. The following topics are possible issues to cover: product/brand availability, service availability, brand counterfeiting, language, religion, business culture, non-verbal behaviors, educational opportunities, business opportunities, and family relations. Some of these may overlap with the content of Project 2; that material (in abbreviated form) may be included here if you believe that it adds to the overall understanding of the country. Please be flexible in your approach to the interviews, and let the individuals discuss what s/he likes (or dislikes) most about the country. There are two levels of analysis for the interviews. First integrate vivid descriptions of what was said as a check on what you found in your secondary search. Second, analyze the differences and similarities with the culture (s) with which you are familiar. Using concepts discussed in class such as individualism/collectivism, time orientation, materialism, and context, attempt to explain why differences exist. Further, try to reconcile what the informants say with your background information search.
Hint 1: Do your preliminary background search BEFORE you conduct your interviews.Hint 2: Conduct your interviews BEFORE you do project 2, as you can gain insights for that project if you ask your informant the right questions.Hint 3: Read the next assignment and use the interviews to ask about access to a magazine for the country.This project is worth 200 points
