American cultural hegemony

[Darth Wong]

I often hear Americans saying that they think the rest of the world is angered by America's cultural hegemony. My question is: does this hegemony really exist?

It's often been said that a far-left person in America would be considered a centrist or perhaps even a rightist in virtually any other western industrialized nation. How can this be so, if all the developed nations' cultures are so heavily influenced by American culture?

It seems to me that there is a fundamental cultural divide between America and the rest of the developed world (never mind the third world; that's a whole separate situation), and that people are confusing consumption with assimilation. People in the rest of the First World nations eagerly consume the products of American culture, but they do not necessarily absorb what one would consider the core of a culture: its values.

[Aeolus]

I often hear Americans saying that they think the rest of the world is angered by America's cultural hegemony. My question is: does this hegemony really exist?

It's often been said that a far-left person in America would be considered a centrist or perhaps even a rightist in virtually any other western industrialized nation. How can this be so, if all the developed nations' cultures are so heavily influenced by American culture?

It seems to me that there is a fundamental cultural divide between America and the rest of the developed world (never mind the third world; that's a whole separate situation), and that people are confusing consumption with assimilation. People in the rest of the First World nations eagerly consume the products of American culture, but they do not necessarily absorb what one would consider the core of a culture: its values.

I think you have hit ti right on the head. American movies, tv, clothing....etc. Is very popular almost everywhere, people want products created by American culture but they don't really want to be Americans.

[Soontir C'boath]

Well they all sure as hell cannot be a New Yorker!

[Knife]

It's often been said that a far-left person in America would be considered a centrist or perhaps even a rightist in virtually any other western industrialized nation. How can this be so, if all the developed nations' cultures are so heavily influenced by American culture?

I really don't feel like America's Political culture is what is exported rather our standard of living.

There are various examples of the 'Parliamentary' system while I really can't think of a copy of the American system off the top of my head. American politics seem to be seperated from the popular culture that is sold at a frieghtening rate overseas.

[Darth Wong]

It's often been said that a far-left person in America would be considered a centrist or perhaps even a rightist in virtually any other western industrialized nation. How can this be so, if all the developed nations' cultures are so heavily influenced by American culture?

I really don't feel like America's Political culture is what is exported rather our standard of living.

Standard of living is mostly due to economics and technology, not culture. Leftism and rightism is not divorced from culture; far from it. In fact, it reflects deep-seated cultural values.

There are various examples of the 'Parliamentary' system while I really can't think of a copy of the American system off the top of my head. American politics seem to be seperated from the popular culture that is sold at a frieghtening rate overseas.

I'm not talking about political systems; I'm talking about general cultural values such as the American revulsion for paternalistic government, the American distaste for intellectual elites, etc. Those things are intimately tied to the rightist movement in the US, and they have not been successfully exported despite decades of media bombardment.

[frigidmagi]

I don't know, maybe the media's just lying out of it's rather wide ass. Actually yeah, the media's lying there is no Cultural Hegemony by the United States in the World today/

Either way, I'm sure you ragard it as a good thing that America is not culturally dominant in the world today. The surprise is I agree with you.

There doesn't need to be a much of mini-america's in the world. Canada should be Canada and the US should be the US and the same goes for everyone else.

Otherwise things would be boring.

The only things I'm really interested in exporting is democratic government and I rather do that in a peaceful maner when possible. I don't care if it's a European model or an American Model or something completly new. Has long has the people get a chocie in determining their leaders and lawmakers.

I'm sure that I'll be screamed at now, by the democracy isn't everyone crowd.

[Knife]

Standard of living is mostly due to economics and technology, not culture. Leftism and rightism is not divorced from culture; far from it. In fact, it reflects deep-seated cultural values.

Considering that culture changes when you introduce technology and money, you can take 'standard of living' as a factor in culture.

I'm not talking about political systems; I'm talking about general cultural values such as the American revulsion for paternalistic government, the American distaste for intellectual elites, etc. Those things are intimately tied to the rightist movement in the US, and they have not been successfully exported despite decades of media bombardment.

Your right in that, but my original comment was to the 'righty V lefty', in that the political ideology doesn't seem to be a major export rather our popular culture.

American revulsion for paternalistic government, the American distaste for intellectual elites are actualy found in both ideologies and thus I realy don't consider it a 'righty v lefty' problem rather the American 'do it your self' philosiphy.

You'd think you'd see it in Canada as much as the US though, since both are relitively new and founded by 'rugged individuals'. I'm at a loss as to the reason though.

[Son of the Suns]

I often hear Americans saying that they think the rest of the world is angered by America's cultural hegemony. My question is: does this hegemony really exist?

It's often been said that a far-left person in America would be considered a centrist or perhaps even a rightist in virtually any other western industrialized nation. How can this be so, if all the developed nations' cultures are so heavily influenced by American culture?

It seems to me that there is a fundamental cultural divide between America and the rest of the developed world (never mind the third world; that's a whole separate situation), and that people are confusing consumption with assimilation. People in the rest of the First World nations eagerly consume the products of American culture, but they do not necessarily absorb what one would consider the core of a culture: its values.

I've never heard an American say this personally. I have, however, heard many non Americans say this.

[RedImperator]

It's often been said that a far-left person in America would be considered a centrist or perhaps even a rightist in virtually any other western industrialized nation. How can this be so, if all the developed nations' cultures are so heavily influenced by American culture?

I really don't feel like America's Political culture is what is exported rather our standard of living.

There are various examples of the 'Parliamentary' system while I really can't think of a copy of the American system off the top of my head. American politics seem to be seperated from the popular culture that is sold at a frieghtening rate overseas.

Most of Latin America uses some variation of presidential democracy, rather than parliamentary democracy. But that's not surprising, considering the mainland nations gained their independence at roughly the same time and they all looked to copy the American model.

[Sarevok]

I think you have hit ti right on the head. American movies, tv, clothing....etc. Is very popular almost everywhere, people want products created by American culture but they don't really want to be Americans.

Good point. The rest of the world enjoys American culture but do not want to become like Americans.

[Sea Skimmer]

I'm going to join Son of the Suns in the "I never encounter anyone but foreigners talking about such a thing" category.

[Sir Sirius]

In most instances where American cultural hegemony is mentioned culture is defined as entertainment and brand regognition, that is since Hollywood movies, McDonalds, Coca-Cola and some other brands are widely distributed an American cultural hegenomy exists. However that is a rather narrow definition of culture.

[Spyder]

America's just simply a large producer that also happens to have cultural traits in common with other nations descended from western Europe. McDonnalds isn't a culture, it's a menu of tasteless hamburgers. It's how the group perceives and interacts with what is provided that determins the culture.

[Peregrin Toker]

You'll have to say that some of the Masonic-derived values of the Founding Fathers (well, at least the "we hold it self-evident that all men are created equal" one) are just as widespread in Europe as in the America, if not more.

I've also heard Americans proclaim that the moralistic plague of political correctness has been far more victorious in Europe than "over there"....

[Shroom Man 777]

You'll have to say that some of the Masonic-derived values of the Founding Fathers (well, at least the "we hold it self-evident that all men are created equal" one) are just as widespread in Europe as in the America, if not more.

You've gotta understand that that stuff wasn't pioneered by the Founding Fathers, that all that stuff were also developed by Europeans, like Volataire (sp?).

[Peregrin Toker]

You'll have to say that some of the Masonic-derived values of the Founding Fathers (well, at least the "we hold it self-evident that all men are created equal" one) are just as widespread in Europe as in the America, if not more.

You've gotta understand that that stuff wasn't pioneered by the Founding Fathers, that all that stuff were also developed by Europeans, like Volataire (sp?).

[Xon]

American revulsion for paternalistic government, the American distaste for intellectual elites are actualy found in both ideologies and thus I realy don't consider it a 'righty v lefty' problem rather the American 'do it your self' philosiphy.

I wouldnt call the 'do it your self' philosiphy the root of the problem at all.

If anything, the massive clusterfucks that have been the American Government's PR disasters over a prolonged period have seriously hammered respect for intellectuals and destroyed the concept of competent government in America.

[Coyote]

I think DW is onto something here. I have heard both Americans and non-Americans say this, and I wonder how much of it is just a thin veneer of assimilation. Things sure can look American but that is only on a superficial level.

Most people in the world seem to agree about the concept of "government at the concent of the governed" but they all come from societies where their ideas and expectations of what government is and what it is supposed to do are wholly different from what Americans expect.

Another thing is the consumers themselves may be mistaking what it means to import "American Values". They may think that eating a Big MAc and wearing jeans is "Adopting American values" and if that is the case we have no one but ourselves to blame. Our advertising steers Americans themselves to think that buying certain products somehow shores up our way of life and allows us to believe certain philosophies.

Why should we be surprised when someone buys a GMC car and smokes Marlboros but continues to support his autocratic regime and deny women the right to vote, work, or education? By buying certain consumer goods, he "looks" American so he fels like he's done his job. Too much of American culture is wrapped around image only with no real substance to back it up-- look at our dismal voter turnouts.

When we try to take the women out of the home and send them to school, or get them to make peace with persecuted minorities within their borders, or try to convince them to allow for democratic vote, then suddenly the way of life that they have had for centuries is being challenged, and for no good reason as far as they can tell. Some cultures respect and desire a strong, autocratic leader that can provide security. If their history is one of insecurity and conflict, then do-it-yourself democracy looks suspiciously like anarchy.

I think the image of America has achieved a sort of hegemony, but the actual meat-and-bones of liberty and democratic process has been left behind in the exportation of cheap, feel-good consumer glamour.

[The Third Man]

People in the rest of the First World nations eagerly consume the products of American culture, but they do not necessarily absorb what one would consider the core of a culture: its values.

That's very thought provoking.

First, let me get my usual complaint out of the way when dealing with sociological matters - there's a lack of hard numbers and a methodology for measuring the phenomenon. There. Now on to the thoughts that have been provoked:

Clearly, for many consumer goods, there is no link between product and culture. Looking round my house I see US-made PCs, central heating controllers, power tools. All these are pretty utilitarian items that exist to do a well-defined, specific job.

However - as always with sociological questions - there is a spectrum to consider here. Those utilitarian consumer items I just mentioned are at one end. From there we move to things like clothing, cars, food and, arguably right at the other end of the spectrum, music.

It seems to me that the consumer goods at the music end of the spectrum do not have a simple, mundane job to do. They are inevitably interwoven into a cultural context, because they are "lifestyle" products, and by their very nature part of their function is to make a statement about the consumers own personal mindset. They do not and cannot work (as lifestyle products) outside of a cultural context.

Two good examples - Harley Davison motorcycles. R&B music for the UK gansta-wannabee.

But the story doesn't end there. Just because the goods have an inescapable "cultural" aspect to them, it doesn't follow that they must be used in a purely American cultural context, or that such a culture must be imposed on a nation before they can be used, or that their use will inevitably lead to an American culture. Cultures and people are resilient and ingenious, and you may find that an American product is used in a totally different context in the local culture - the local culture adapts to assimilate the American product.

On top of all this, the American consumer product when it hits a foreign country, almost always brings with it the advertising media, which further complicates the analysis.

One more thought - have we really had a long enough period of time to make valid observations? This phenomenon has only being going on for 50 years, and cultures can be slow to change.

I don't draw any conclusions, but it does seem unlikely that consumer products alone can force a fundamental cultural change (ie to the "core values" level), but I can imagine it's possible that they may well, especially when supported by their advertising, cause less fundamental change. And that brings me right back to where I started - what are the measurements for "fundamental cultural change"?

Oh, and I do believe that Tony "Blair Force One" Blair is so insistent on the UK absorbing American culture that he will soon introduce legislation making those little white picket fence thingies and a mailbox on a post mandatory in all new-build British homes. And paperboys will be required to whizz the morning paper from their pushbikes.

[Aeolus]

American revulsion for paternalistic government, the American distaste for intellectual elites are actualy found in both ideologies and thus I realy don't consider it a 'righty v lefty' problem rather the American 'do it your self' philosiphy.

I wouldnt call the 'do it your self' philosiphy the root of the problem at all.

If anything, the massive clusterfucks that have been the American Government's PR disasters over a prolonged period have seriously hammered respect for intellectuals and destroyed the concept of competent government in America.

I diagree anti-intellectualism and "do-it-youself" havebeen part of the American Culture from very early in the republics history. On a side note Europeans intellectuals have disiked American values and culture almost from the begining with a few notible exceptions

[Dahak]

You'll have to say that some of the Masonic-derived values of the Founding Fathers (well, at least the "we hold it self-evident that all men are created equal" one) are just as widespread in Europe as in the America, if not more.

I've also heard Americans proclaim that the moralistic plague of political correctness has been far more victorious in Europe than "over there"....

Well, from my personal experience, I have to say that political correctness seems to be more rampant in the US.
Just take nipplegate. That wouldn't have raised an eyebrow here.

[Peregrin Toker]

You'll have to say that some of the Masonic-derived values of the Founding Fathers (well, at least the "we hold it self-evident that all men are created equal" one) are just as widespread in Europe as in the America, if not more.

I've also heard Americans proclaim that the moralistic plague of political correctness has been far more victorious in Europe than "over there"....

Well, from my personal experience, I have to say that political correctness seems to be more rampant in the US.
Just take nipplegate. That wouldn't have raised an eyebrow here.

Actually, the guy didn't say it was political correctness which was more rampant in Europe, but slave morality. (a term whose meaning I don't understand wholly as I haven't read Nietzsche)

In any case, it is still worth noting that since we're absorbing American entertainment and so on, we are somehow also absorbing the results of USA culture - which of course paves the way for the adoption of American cultural values.

[PainRack]

Actually, the focus on entertainment, brand recognition is valid. That is because most of the violent backlash against America is against the values her business community preach.

Consumerism, "immorality", materialism, instant gratification. Conservatives, especially for more insular cultures detest them.

For the liberals, the revulsion is against the American "way of life", which in many cases, appear to be exemplified by the above values and is protrayed by American brands and foods, even if such an impression is untrue.

So, it is a matter of bad press, but its bad press being backed by billions of advertising dollars.

[Dahak]

You'll have to say that some of the Masonic-derived values of the Founding Fathers (well, at least the "we hold it self-evident that all men are created equal" one) are just as widespread in Europe as in the America, if not more.

I've also heard Americans proclaim that the moralistic plague of political correctness has been far more victorious in Europe than "over there"....

Well, from my personal experience, I have to say that political correctness seems to be more rampant in the US.
Just take nipplegate. That wouldn't have raised an eyebrow here.

Actually, the guy didn't say it was political correctness which was more rampant in Europe, but slave morality. (a term whose meaning I don't understand wholly as I haven't read Nietzsche)

In any case, it is still worth noting that since we're absorbing American entertainment and so on, we are somehow also absorbing the results of USA culture - which of course paves the way for the adoption of American cultural values.

I can only speak for the average German, of course.
We usually don't have the same distrust towards government/state authorities. We're a lot more formal and guard our privacy more. Most people won't approach you as easily as many Americans do. And the average german is WAYS less religious, which plays almost no role in day-to-day life here. This really religious-dripped culture is what I possibly will never be able to fathom...

[Joe]

I'm going to join Son of the Suns in the "I never encounter anyone but foreigners talking about such a thing" category.

Myself as well, most Americans just don't care enough to know.