Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Globalization = Americanism or Anti-Americanism
America today is one of the leading economies and many countries are being influenced by the Americans. For example, in the music industry, names like Justin Timberlake, Britney spears are well known throughout the world, even in countries like China. Such is the power of globalization, The United States dominates this global traffic in information and ideas. American music, American movies, American television, and American software are so dominant, so sought after, and so visible that they are now available literally everywhere on the Earth. They influence the tastes, lives, and aspirations of virtually every nation. Of course a majority of Americans, having a favorable view of American popular culture are glad that the American culture has spread throughout the world
. However, to other nations the American culture is viewed in a bad light and is said to be corrupting. France and Canada have both passed laws to prohibit the satellite dissemination of foreign - meaning American - content across their borders and into the homes of their citizens. Not surprisingly, in many other countries fundamentalist Iran, communist China, and the closely managed society of Singapore - central governments have aggressively sought to restrict the software and programming that reach their citizens. Their explicit objective is to keep out American and other alien political views, mores, and, as it is called in some parts of the Middle East, "news pollution."
Despite their efforts, no one can deny that America is the leading power and economy and the sole state trying to pull all nations towards a common culture. One example is the use of English, English has become the world's language thanks to the US. Over the years, it has been in the general interest of the United States to encourage the development of a world in which the fault lines separating nations are bridged by shared interests. And it is in the economic and political interests of the United States to ensure that if the world is moving toward a common language, it be English; that if the world is moving toward common telecommunications, safety, and quality standards, they be American; that if the world is becoming linked by television, radio, and music, the programming be American; and that if common values are being developed, they be values with which Americans are comfortable. These are not simply idle aspirations. English is linking
the world. American information technologies and services are at the cutting edge of those that are enabling globalization. Access to the largest economy in the world - America's - is the primary carrot leading other nations to open their markets. Everyone is trying hard to keep up with America, in turn following their lead.
Globalization has lead to Americanization in mny countries, teenagers watching movies and listening to songs. The next generation is also slowly being "brainwashed" and influenced by this powerful western culture. Thus it is true that globalization has lead to Americanization of many nations despite feelings of anti- Americanism.
The best example of Americanization that can be found in almost every nation, MACDONALDS!
Major fastfoods and cafes from america can be found all over the world now!
not forgetting coca-cola and soccer!
TRY AND STOP THE AMERICANS!
credits:
www.movietome.com
www.understandfrance.org
www.tomorrowstrends.com
zaxblogging.blogspot.com
http://www.americans-world.org/digest/global_issues/globalization/culture.cfm
http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/cultural/globcult.htm
Done by: Shu Fen 2B/07
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