Throughout history, hundreds of regimes have employed Titushky-like tactics. There is no denying their effectiveness; however, they also come with a huge risk. By openly failing to protect citizens, the state’s monopoly on violence slips and along with it, its legitimacy.

For Gen-Z, this is the usual way of entertainment. For conservative politicians, this is the new frontier in the war for power hegemony. While the U.S. debates the identity politics at home; Japan, Korea, and China have been reshaping global imagination in the West and beyond.

Nations should embrace the aesthetics of pride, but they must also move beyond products to reflect the deeper, more complex realities of the country. Patriotism should not be measured by the number of flags or decorations one owns.

It’s time to open the door to a new kind of diplomacy. One that is more open, more connected to people, and grounded. We can begin to see ourselves as diplomats, proud of what we have and eager to share it.