Designing national pavilions and nations: Czechoslovakia and Bat'a at interwar exhibitions

World's fairs are events where nations meet, are confronted with each other and where they share their understanding of the world order and themselves. One of the primary and original purposes of world's fairs was to showcase the best of industrial and commercial products and establish new trade relationships. Gradually, other important features emerged: displays of national or regional identity, displays of colonial possessions, as well as educating visitors and providing them with entertainment. Underlying these, however, were almost always the commercial interests that drove the participation of various states in these costly events.