Nose-picking in Vietnam

Abstract This study focuses on nose picking, an observable occurrence in Vietnam. Elias (2010) said that in the civilizing process, self-regulation is a gathering force and the act of nose picking is not performed in public. To better understand the reasons why nose picking is an observable occurrence in Vietnam, the author analyzes content from Thanh Nghị , a magazine published from 1941–1945 during the French colonial era and created by Vietnamese intellectuals to further the spread of French civilizational ideals. This study has two purposes: first, it clarifies the role of Thanh Nghị as an intellectual proponent of French colonialism. Second, it explores different aspects of the civilizing process. By achieving these aims, the study illustrates the effectiveness of the civilizing process in colonial society.