Americanization

In the early 1900's, "Americanization" referred to the movement where immigrants were developed into Americans. Now, in today's world, the term has a different, but similar meaning - the globalization by the U.S. of the world. The American economy is an ever-present force in the world today. Pepsi ads now clutter the streets of every big city in China, Big Macs are being ordered throughout the entire world, and the term "Always Coca-Cola" is being muttered by all of Europe, although they have no idea what the phrase means. Have we gone too far in our economic Americanization of the world? Some will argue that we have - using our advantage of being the world's only superpower in a dangerous way - by interfering and forcing our culture on countries that do not want to be "Americanized." It is my belief that Americanization gives other countries a false sense of the American way of life and, in the end, causes hatred for the U.S. and threats on our power and freedom.

Americans think of their culture as relatively conservative. However, compared to the rest of the world, we are the revolutionary society. This causes a threat to many nations around the world. "For the rest of the world, we are wild, crazy revolutionaries, with rings in our noses and paint on our toes, overturning cultures and traditions wherever we go". Is this the image we want to globalize for the whole world to see? Americanization gives the world the wrong view of America; will it take another September 11 to figure this out? Americanization must be stopped, or else drastically lowered, so not to threaten other nation's traditions and beliefs.

Despite this recent surge in American culture over the world, a few countries like France and Germany are making plans to slow Americanization. By raising taxes and tariffs on foreign companies and investors, these countries are making it harder for American companies to profit overseas. Also, in Israel, a cultural rebellion is taking place. The Israeli government, in an attempt to slow down Americanization, now requires their radio stations to devote half their airtime to Hebrew songs. These are only the exceptions to the rule of American globalization, though. Americanization is now in full swing and sees no end in sight, particularly because many Americans perceive it as a great achievement. Charles Krauthammer writes in Time magazine that, "America is no mere international citizen. It is the dominant power in the world, more dominant than any since Rome. Accordingly, America is in a position to re-shape norms, alter expectations and create new realities". Lewis Lapham expresses the same opinion in his "American Rome" essay. He says that it is America's job to help out the world and "cleanse the world of its impurities". Americanization, these people believe, is the answer - the change that the world is looking for. Of course, if the world really does want change, who's to say that America has the answer? What gives us the right to assume that American culture is the way of the future? These questions should have been answered first, before American culture took over the planet. As G. Pascal Zachary writes, "We are all Americans now, like it or not". If he is saying this statement now, what will the world be like if America continues this trend in ten years? How about even twenty years? How far will American globalization go, or more importantly, will it ever end?

5.2. A multinational company is developing a project “The Globalized World”. To take part in it, you are to submit your reflections on “Different Aspects of Globalization” (you can write about economics, travelling, food, music, culture, etc.). To be eligible, your mini-project should be concise and succinct (about 20 sentences). The selected candidates will win a trip about Europe.