1.

CULTURAL IMPERIALISM
The extension of the influence or dominance of one nation's culture over others, now usually
through the exportation of cultural commodities such as film, music, etc.

Cultural imperialism, in anthropology, sociology, and ethics, the imposition

by one usually politically or economically dominant community of various
aspects of its own culture onto another, nondominant community. It
is cultural in that the customs, traditions, religion, language, social
and moral norms, and other aspects of the imposing community are distinct
from, though often closely related to, the economic and political systems that
shape the other community. It is a form ofimperialism in that the imposing
community forcefully extends the authority of its way of life over the other
population by either transforming or replacing aspects of the nondominant
community’s culture.
While the term cultural imperialism did not emerge in scholarly or popular
discourse until the 1960s, the phenomenon has a long record. Historically,
practices of cultural imperialism have almost always been linked with
military intervention and conquest. The rise and spread of the Roman Empire
provides some of the earliest examples of cultural imperialism in the history
of Western civilization and highlights both negative and positive aspects of
the phenomenon. During a period known as the Pax Romana, the Romans
secured a fairly long period of relative peace and stability among previously
war-torn territories through a unified legal system, technological
developments, and a well-establishedinfrastructure. However, this peace was
secured, in part, by the forcedacculturation of the
culturally diverse populations Rome had conquered.
Later, cultural imperialism became one of the primary instruments of
colonization. While colonization was almost always initiated by some kind of
military intervention, its full effects were achieved through practices of
cultural imperialism. Fueled by a belief in the superiority of their own way of
life, colonizers used law, education, and/or military force to impose various
aspects of their own culture onto the target population. Motivated, in part, by
a desire to purge local populations of allegedly barbaric, uncivilized customs
and mores, colonizers also knew that the best way to mitigate resistance by
the colonized was to eradicate as far as possible all traces of the former way
of life.
One of the clearest examples of the forced acculturation of a colonized
population was the Spanish influence in Latin America, beginning with the
conquest of the Aztec empire by Hernán Cortés during the early 16th century.
After securing their physical presence in the region, the Spanish suppressed
Mesoamerican culture, forbidding the Indians to learn and transmit their
culture while simultaneously requiring them to read and write Spanish and
convert to Christianity. This kind of behavior was certainly not unique to the
Spanish; other examples include the influence of the British in India, the
Dutch in the East Indies, and the French in Africa.
During the 20th century, cultural imperialism was no longer so closely linked
with military intervention but rather with the exertion of economic and
political influence by some powerful countries over less powerful countries.
Many observers view the Soviet Union’s forceful attempts to impose
communism on other countries as a form of cultural imperialism. Charges of
cultural imperialism have been aimed at the United States by critics who
allege that imperial control was being sought economically by creating a
demand for American goods and services in other parts of the world through
aggressive marketing. This “Americanization” of other cultures is said to
occur when the mass exportation of American films, music, clothing, and
food into other countries threatens to replace local products and to alter or
extinguish features of the traditional way of life. Some countries have
attempted to thwart this cultural threat through various kinds of legal
action—for example, by banning the sale of certain products.
Theresa Weynand Tobin

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

https://www.britannica.com/topic/cultural-imperialism

Cultural imperialism was around long before the United States

became a world power. In its broadest strokes, imperialism
describes the ways that one nation asserts its power over another.
Just as imperial Britain economically ruled the American colonists,
so did Britain strongly influence the culture of the colonies. The
culture was still a mix of nationalities—many Dutch and Germans
settled as well—but the ruling majority of ex-Britons led British
culture to generally take over.
Today, cultural imperialism tends to describe the United States’ role
as a cultural superpower throughout the world. American movie
studios are generally much more successful than their foreign
counterparts not only because of their business models but also
because the concept of Hollywood has become one of the modern
worldwide movie business’s defining traits. Multinational,
nongovernmental corporations can now drive global culture. This is
neither entirely good nor entirely bad. On one hand, foreign cultural
institutions can adopt successful American business models, and
corporations are largely willing to do whatever makes them the most
money in a particular market—whether that means giving local
people a shot at making movies, or making multicultural films such
as 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire. However, cultural imperialism has
potential negative effects as well. From a spread of Western ideals of
beauty to the possible decline of local cultures around the world,
cultural imperialism can have a quick and devastating effect.

Cultural Hegemony
To begin discussing the topic of cultural imperialism, it is important
to look at the ideas of one of its founding theorists, Antonio
Gramsci. Strongly influenced by the theories and writings of Karl
Marx, Italian philosopher and critic Gramsci originated the idea of
cultural hegemony to describe the power of one group over another.
Unlike Marx, who believed that the workers of the world would
eventually unite and overthrow capitalism, Gramsci instead argued
that culture and the media exert such a powerful influence on
society that they can actually influence workers to buy into a system
that is not economically advantageous to them. This argument that
media can influence culture and politics is typified in the notion of
the American Dream. In this rags-to-riches tale, hard work and
talent can lead to a successful life no matter where one starts. Of
course, there is some truth to this, but it is by far the exception
rather than the rule.

Marx’s ideas remained at the heart of Gramsci’s beliefs. According

to Gramsci’s notion, thehegemons of capitalism—those who
control the capital—can assert economic power, while the hegemons
of culture can assert cultural power. This concept of culture is
rooted in Marxist class struggle, in which one group is dominated by
another and conflict arises. Gramsci’s concept of cultural hegemony
is pertinent in the modern day not because of the likelihood of a
local property-owning class oppressing the poor, but because of
concern that rising globalization will permit one culture to so
completely assert its power that it drives out all competitors.
http://open.lib.umn.edu/mediaandculture/chapter/13-7-cultural-imperialism/
1. AMERICANIZATION
2. Americanization, in the early 20th century, activities that were
designed to prepare foreign-born residents of the United States
for full participation incitizenship. It aimed not only at the
achievement of naturalization but also at an understanding of
and commitment to principles of American life and work.
3. Before the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the American public
generally took it for granted that the constant flow of newcomers
from abroad brought strength and prosperity to the country.
The metaphor of the “melting pot” had been introduced to
symbolize the mystical potency of the great democracy, whereby
people from every corner of the earth were fused into a
harmonious and admirable blend. After the war began, however,
American reactions to European hostilities produced an intense
awareness of the aliens and “foreigners” in their midst.
Assimilation, it was believed, must be achieved by the deliberate,
and sometimes forceful, means of earlier nativist movements.
4. The Americanization movement that came into being was
primarily a program of education propagated through schools,
businesses, voluntary associations (such as the YMCA),
libraries, and citizens bureaus. The teaching of foreigners
became a favourite form of patriotic service for organizations
such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, particularly
after the entry of the United States into the war. The movement
 also took hold in nascent industries that desired an immigrant
workforce capable of adjusting to mass-production work
standards.
5. In its earliest days school programs were directed toward the
correction of the most obvious deficiencies. The core of the
curriculum was the English language, American history, and the
governmental structure of the United States, understanding of
which was necessary for naturalization. Those who were
interested in teaching other subjects began to capitalize on the
popularity of the movement. Soon the offering included courses
in millinery, cooking, social amenities, and the care of children,
all presented, of course, as essential elements of
American culture.
6. Enthusiasm for Americanization persisted throughout World War
I and was prolonged into the postwar period. Gradually,
however, popular interest in such measures diminished.
Wartime apprehensions subsided, and new legislation severely
limited the influx of immigrants. Before long, Americanization
became no more than a fairly obscure but continuing effort to
prepare people for naturalization by teaching them English,
civics, and history, or even just English.

7. Meanwhile, there had developed a thorough reexamination of

the concept of Americanization. The idea of the melting pot and
 the early belief that all foreigners should be transformed into
typical Americans began to appear naive. Who is the typical
American? Are American cultural habits (as defined in any
particular curriculum) necessarily better than the way of life with
which the foreign resident is familiar? The United States was
built by people who came from many backgrounds; is not the
effort to impose conformity itself un-American? These and other
questions proved hard to answer in the 1920s. So deeply did the
disillusionment penetrate that within less than a decade after the
Armistice, “Americanization” was a term to be shunned, not
used.

8. In place of the old idea of supplanting all foreign traits by a

standard pattern there grew up the idea of cultural “pluralism.” It
was argued by some that assimilation in its accepted sense was
not a desirable goal but that American civilization would benefit
by preserving many separate cultures side by side. Still others
contended that this pluralism would gradually disappear over the
years, that the American character was still in the process of
formation, and that, as this character gradually emerged, it would
be enriched by the blending of the admirable features of the
various foreign nationalities.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Americanization
Americanization is the process by which people
or countries become more and moresimilar to Americans and
the United States.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/americanization

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/02/how-the-world-was-won-
americanization-of-everywhere-review-peter-conrad

The action of making a person or thing American in character or nationality

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/americanization

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/americanization

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/16/arts/16iht-idlede17.html

1. AMERICAN IMPERIALISM
2. American imperialism” is a term that refers to the economic, military,
and cultural influence of the United States on other countries. First
popularized during the presidency of James K. Polk, the concept of an
“American Empire” was made a reality throughout the latter half of the
1800s. During this time, industrialization caused American businessmen
to seek new international markets in which to sell their goods. In
addition, the increasing influence of social Darwinism led to the belief
that the United States was inherently responsible for bringing concepts
such as industry, democracy, and Christianity to less developed
“savage” societies. The combination of these attitudes and other factors
led the United States toward imperialism.
3.
4. “Ten Thousand Miles from Tip to Tip”: “Ten Thousand Miles from Tip to Tip,” refers to
the extension of U.S. domination (symbolized by a bald eagle) from Puerto Rico to the
Philippines. The cartoon contrasts the 1898 representation with that of the United States
in 1798.
5. American imperialism is partly rooted in American exceptionalism, the
idea that the United States is different from other countries due to its
specific world mission to spread liberty and democracy. This theory
often is traced back to the words of 1800s French observer Alexis de
Tocqueville, who concluded that the United States was a unique nation,
“proceeding along a path to which no limit can be perceived.”
6. Pinpointing the actual beginning of American imperialism is difficult.
Some historians suggest that it began with the writing of the
Constitution; historian Donald W. Meinig argues that the imperial
behavior of the United States dates back to at least the Louisiana
Purchase. He describes this event as an, “aggressive encroachment of
one people upon the territory of another, resulting in the subjugation of
that people to alien rule.” Here, he is referring to the U.S. policies
toward Native Americans, which he said were, “designed to remold
them into a people more appropriately conformed to imperial desires.”
7.
8. Uncle Sam teaching the world: This caricature shows Uncle Sam lecturing four children
labelled “Philippines,” “Hawaii,” “Puerto Rico,” and “Cuba” in front of children holding
books labeled with various U.S. states. In the background, an American Indian holds a
book upside down, a Chinese boy stands at the door, and a black boy cleans a window.
The blackboard reads, “The consent of the governed is a good thing in theory, but very
rare in fact… the U.S. must govern its new territories with or without their consent until
they can govern themselves.”
9. Whatever its origins, American imperialism experienced its pinnacle
from the late 1800s through the years following World War II. During this
“Age of Imperialism,” the United States exerted political, social, and
economic control over countries such as the Philippines, Cuba,
Germany, Austria, Korea, and Japan. One of the most notable
examples of American imperialism in this age was the annexation of
Hawaii in 1898, which allowed the United States to gain possession and
control of all ports, buildings, harbors, military equipment, and public
property that had formally belonged to the Government of the Hawaiian
Islands. On January 17, 1893, the last monarch of the Kingdom of
Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani, was deposed in a coup d’état led largely by
American citizens who were opposed to Liliuokalani’s attempt to
establish a new Constitution. This action eventually resulted in Hawaii’s
becoming America’s 50th state in 1959.
 https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-
ushistory/chapter/american-imperialism/

2. COCA-COLONIZATION

https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/15/business/viewpoints-a-brief-
history-of-coca-colonization.html

Coca-colonize
to bring (a foreign country) under the influenceof U.S. trade, popula
r culture, and attitudes.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/coca-colonize

http://www.atlantamagazine.com/great-reads/cocacolonization/

3. AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM

http://theweek.com/articles/654508/what-exactly-american-exceptionalism

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/American_exceptionalism

1. WESTERNIZATION
to influence with ideas, customs, practices, etc.,characteristic of the Occid
ent or of the westernU.S.

https://www.theglobalist.com/does-globalization-equal-westernization/

Western cultures and values are superior

submitted 1 year ago* by clayagds990∆
 Some cultures are better than other cultures. That being said, I truly believe
Western values are much superior than that of the East. The Greeks started
democracy, and in the modern day era, the Americans and French spread
those democratic ideals all over the world. Moreover, unlike in the certain
other parts of the world, we guarantee our women rights. When a woman is
raped, she receives justice, not the death penalty. We allow our women to
demonstrate, stand up for themselves and do whatever they wish to do. Our
gay citizens have the right to marry and adopt, something that no Eastern
country (except South Africa; tho South Africa is still a part of "the West") is
privileged to have. Gay people are not killed and imprisoned here, unlike the
seventy countries where they are. People are allowed to follow whatever
religion they want. People are allowed to talk crap about the ones in power
without facing repercussions. It is the West that is leading the world - from
industrialization to fighting against climate change. Sure, we may have had
our problems, from slavery to colonization, but we have moved on from all
those things. We have understood our mistakes, and are taking steps to
ensure a much brighter future where all our citizens are equal and free

Countries part of the West[edit]

Main article: Western world

The "West" was originally defined as the Western world. Ancient Romans distinguished
between Oriental (Eastern, or Asian) cultures that inhabited present-day Egypt and
Occidental cultures that lived in the West. A thousand years later, the East-West
Schism separated theCatholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church from each other. The
definition of Western changed as the West was influenced by and spread to other nations.
Islamic and Byzantine scholars added to the Western canon when their stores of Greek and
Roman literature jump-started the Renaissance. Although Russia converted
to Christianity in the 10th century, the West expanded to include it fully whenPeter the
Great deeply reformed the country's government, the church and modernised the society
thanks to the ideas brought from the Netherlands.[6] Today, most modern uses of the term
refer to the societies in the West and their close genealogical, linguistic,
andphilosophical descendants, typically included are those countries whose ethnic identity
and dominant culture are derived from European culture. However, though sharing in similar
historical background, it would be incorrect to regard the Western world as a monolithic
bloc, as many cultural, linguistic, religious, political, and economical differences exist
between Western countries and populations.

Western civilization is commonly said to include United States, Canada, European

Union (and at least the EFTA countries, European microstates), Australia and New
Zealand.[7][8]

The definition is often widened, and can include these countries, or a combination of these
countries:

 European countries outside of the EU and EFTA – Due to sharing of the

general European culture and Christian faith, these countries are included in the
definition of the West.
 Latin America. Some countries in Latin America are considered Western countries,
largely because most of its peoples are descended from Europeans (Spanish and
Portuguese settlers and later immigration from other European nations). And thus their
society operates in a highly Westernized way. Indeed, most countries in Latin America
use their official language, either in Spanish orPortuguese. According to the CIA World
Factbook, there has also been considerable immigration to Latin America from
European nations other than Spain and Portugal (for example, from Germany, Italy,
the Netherlands, etc.—see Immigration to Argentina,Immigration to Brazil, Immigration
to Uruguay or Immigration to Chile).[9]

Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization,
Western lifestyle or European civilization, is a term used very broadly
to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional
customs, belief systems, political systems, and specific artifacts and
technologies that have some origin or association with Europe.
The term has come to apply to countries whose history is strongly marked by European
immigration, such as the countries of the Americas and Australasia, and is not restricted to
the continent of Europe.

Western culture is characterized by a host of artistic, philosophic, literary, and legal themes
and traditions; the heritage of Celtic, Germanic, Hellenic, Jewish, Slavic, Latin, and other
ethnic and linguistic groups, as well as Christianity, which played an important part in the
shaping of Western civilization since at least the 4th century.

Also contributing to Western thought, in ancient times and then in the Middle Ages and the
Renaissance onwards, a tradition of rationalism in various spheres of life, developed by
Hellenistic philosophy, Scholasticism, humanism, the Scientific Revolution and the
Enlightenment.

Values of Western culture have, throughout history, been derived from political thought,
widespread employment of rational argument favouring freethought, assimilation of human
rights, the need for equality, and democracy.

Historical records of Western culture in Europe begin with Ancient Greece and Ancient
Rome.

Western culture continued to develop with Christianization during the Middle Ages, the
reform and modernization triggered by the Renaissance, and with globalization by
successive European empires, that spread European ways of life and European educational
methods around the world between the 16th and 20th centuries.

European culture developed with a complex range of philosophy, medieval scholasticism

and mysticism, and Christian and secular humanism.

Rational thinking developed through a long age of change and formation, with the
experiments of the Enlightenment, and breakthroughs in the sciences.

With its global connection, European culture grew with an all-inclusive urge to adopt, adapt,
and ultimately influence other cultural trends around the world.

Tendencies that have come to define modern Western societies include the existence of
political pluralism, prominent subcultures or countercultures (such as New Age
movements), and increasing cultural syncretism -- resulting from globalization and human
migration.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/western_culture.htm

https://www.timemaps.com/civilizations/western-civilization/

the modern culture of Europe and North America;also, the study of this c
ulture