Preview

A critical review of the article "In Praise of Cultural Imperialism" by David Rothkopf.

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
696 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
A critical review of the article "In Praise of Cultural Imperialism" by David Rothkopf.
In the article, In Praise of Cultural Imperialism, David Rothkopf illustrates a progressive new world order where information is the new global currency and the United States, "the indispensable nation," is the bank. In his article, Rothkopf contrasts the victimizing tendencies of 'cultural barriers', which are the unmistakably causing ethnic, religious, ideological, tribal or nationalistic conflicts, to the uniting tendencies of western globalization. Rothkopf predicts the inevitable merging of all the cultures under the common benefits originating from globalization once "they have realized that to compete in the global marketplace they must conform to the culture of that marketplace" The United States whose policies are evidently "the best model for the future" will lead this next step in civilization's evolution, all the while making sure that "if common values are being developed, they be the values with which Americans are comfortable." Rothkopf further states that it is in the US's best interest "to encourage the development of a world in which the fault lines separating nations are bridged by shared interest" ultimately leading to a more peaceful and tolerant future: "Globalization is a vital step toward both a more stable world and better lives for the people in it."

Rothkopf, the former Deputy Undersecretary of the Commerce Department under the Clinton Administration and now the president of an international advisory firm, is also an adjunct professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University. Consequently, his views clearly demonstrate a pro-American capitalist's stance on the issues pertaining to American economics, cultural imperialism and foreign policy. In his article, Rothkopf describes the power of culture and its influence over this new age global environment, with its power to "bind and to divide in a time when the tensions between integration and separation tug at every issue that is relevant to international relations."

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Neoliberalism and Australia

    • 2524 Words
    • 11 Pages

    The role of globalization has had a major influence on society and the world, and this essay will argue it has resulted in cultural homogenization. This can be illustrated through an introduction to globalization, the consolidation of media, ownership and vested interests, world standardization and neoliberalism, politics and the media and public service media. Examining the different views of globalization, including Appadurai and McChesney as well as other sources it can be clearly understood the negatives arising due to globalization, and its impact on cultural homogenization.…

    • 2524 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    This quote is taken directly out of his book, in which he is demonstrating very strong feeling towards the very controversial notion that globalization is the cause of cultural homogenization, westernization, and the spread of consumer culture worldwide. Homogenization is the process of erasing differences, such as cultural differences so that all people are more similar. Some examples of homogenization include the diffusion on mainstream languages such as English in countries whose indigenous language is something very different. We often see how most websites on the World Wide Web are created and viewed in English, even in countries whose official language is spanish for example, which is the very issue the organization “La Francophonie” worked hard at fighting against. Homogenization is considered one of the main characteristics of globalization. This is evident when we look at the story of the Ladakhi people. These people lived in peace until the spread of western culture reached their home in the mountains and they began to become ashamed of their culture. Thinking they were poor and that their ways of life were at a lower standard than those of North American and European tourists. John Tomlinson states early on in his quote that “globalization in the cultural sphere has, most generally, been viewed in a pessimistic light” This similar idea is shown in his novel where he discusses in depth how globalization has ignited a flame of assimilation, and “destruction of cultural identities”. This perspective towards globalization has been spread very little by the media and government officials, since their main goal is to increase globalization in their favor as much as possible. The assimilation and homogenization of cultures benefits these companies and many…

    • 1709 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    James Howard Kunstler

    • 939 Words
    • 4 Pages

    James Howard Kunstler begins his essay by quoting a well-known author and columnist, Thomas Friedman, who states that globalisation is a wonderful fixture of society, and that it is here to stay. Globalisation refers to an increased openness of national borders to the movement of trade, products, and money in the past forty years or so. Kunstler however, is strongly opposed to this point, and believes that globalisations will soon be a thing of the past. He believes that this state of Globalisation is centered on relative world peace and an abundance of reliable and cheap energy, and if one of those were taken away, globalisation would crumble. The author goes on to say how the people in power do not see this coming, even though it is clearly inevitable. He goes back through many different parts of history to show how…

    • 939 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    syllabus

    • 2035 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In this course we will be looking at the changes in American culture that occur as the United States goes from relative isolation at the end of the 19th century to an active and integrated part of the global community by the beginning of the 21st century. We will examine ways in which U.S. culture was impacted by its international involvement. The course will examine why this happens and how Americans responded to this new international role. We will explore reactions to, and results of, that expanding role both inside and outside the United States. Throughout the course we will seek to answer the following two part question: Why does the United States move from relative isolation into an international role and what are the consequences for U.S. society of that change?…

    • 2035 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    While it is clear that a peaceful introduction to another culture through trade and commercial enterprise will always be better accepted than a military imposition of a foreign culture, it is not true to say that any culture will bend to another influence by an action as simple as eating a hamburger or drinking a soft drink. The increase in globalisation in the world has already begun a pattern of recognition and strengthening of cultural identity. The anti-globalisation movement is very vocal in criticising the western (or more specifically, American) of cultural imperialism, but studies provide evidence that the West is developing a respect and understanding of other civilisations in order to protect its economic standing in global politics. Differences among cultures are not easily resolved, as culture plays an intense role in the identification and functioning of various civilizations. Culture is a vital element of globalization because it is through cultural understanding and empathy that national relationships grow.…

    • 2031 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Globalization has been one of the most hotly contested phenomena of the past two decades. It has been a primary attractor of books, articles, and heated debate, just as postmodernism was the most fashionable and debated topic of the 1980s. A wide and diverse range of social theorists have argued that today 's world is organized by accelerating globalization, which is strengthening the dominance of a world capitalist economic system, supplanting the primacy of the nation-state by transnational corporations and organizations, and eroding local cultures and traditions through a global culture. Contemporary theorists from a wide range of political and theoretical…

    • 16051 Words
    • 65 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Nowadays, globalization is an overwhelming world trend. Advocates of Anti- globalization view globalization as homogenization. In fact, globalization is not simply homogenization; on the contrary, it enhances cultural identity. First, People are not mere objects of cultural influences, but subjects who can reject or integrate culture. Besides, with the development of science and technology, people are closer than before. The sense of “togetherness” brought with globalization is not at all in conflict with diversity. In the new era of globalization, people become…

    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Instead, he describes the rich amalgamation of various factors to transform the world into a new stage of evolution. For the most part, the world has been subject to political revolutions, and has been defined as ‘globalizing’ within the framework of the international community. Now, as nations change and borders are being redefined, there are far-reaching exchanges within both an individual and international basis. Furthermore, “the dissociation of major...social, economic, political, family and gender roles, organizations, and relations from the hitherto” are the primary causes for change. This has caused overturns in class relations as well as political centers and cultures. In a highly diverse nation like the United States, new social and cultural identities are transcending beyond national boundaries.This source is very credible as the writer, Eisenstadt, has won a EMET Prize in Social Sciences, and was an acclaimed sociologist worldwide. His work is respected by many in his field and thereby should be considered credible. I intend to use this source as a point of introduction in order to show how globalization is spreading universally and parallelly works and with boundaries such as politics and the…

    • 1083 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    As we all know, the United States has grown into a global superpower. Wherever we look, there is something that has been inspired by the American ideology. America’s globalization has drastically changed many countries for the better because it changes the economy, community, and foreign policy.…

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cultural imperialism is the effort by powerful states to force their culture and societal systems upon subjugated, or less powerful, people. These formal and informal efforts are often based on ethnocentrism and were exemplified by the social Darwinist movement of the late nineteenth century. Cultural imperialism is responsible for the spread of some positive values, including democracy and equal rights, but it also brought about the demise of many indigenous cultures and languages and provided a justification for colonialism. During the early period of Western colonialism, cultural imperialism was marked by efforts to forcibly spread Christianity and European economic values to indigenous societies. The onset of the new imperialism of the nineteenth…

    • 1259 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    American Imperialism

    • 841 Words
    • 4 Pages

    As America was becoming a world power, it set it eyes on foreign trade. In order to protect its investments the United States had to influence foreign countries government and thus become imperialistic. Many believed that a growing country, such as the U.S., would not be able to survive or become stronger if it did not extend its trade and influence. U.S. Navy officer, Alfred T. Mahan once said, “America must look outward. The growing production of the country demands it. An increasing volume of public sentiment demands it.” In document two Mahan, believes that the people of the U.S. are behind imperialism.…

    • 841 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The primary focus is the French governmental rejection of popular American music, as well as other components of American culture, in the second half of the twentieth century, derived from France's foreign policy with the USA, and it~ culture. What was interesting were the steps that the French took to protect their culture from what they saw, and continue to see, as the imminent destruction at the hands of popular American culture.…

    • 1358 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The notion of globalization dates back to the early modern period, this practice of globalization consists of the international development facilities, influences, and operations. With time the practice of globalization evolved into Imperialism, which is the practice of forcefully implementing a country’s power and influence over other countries, and transforming them into colonies. This act of colonization began when countries desired to increase their supply of raw materials in order to maximized the greatest good. A country in particular who has faithfully practiced the policey of imperialism is the United States. The United States has imperialized many countries, these countries are now known as Common Wealths, the common wealth that met…

    • 225 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Nor can it seriously be argued – as some have – that these tools of U.S. foreign policy are no longer needed now that the Cold War is over and America no longer faces major threats. There was a brief moment of euphoria follwing the collapse of the Soviet empire. But no specialized expertise is needed to realize that, far from being on the verge of a new order, the world has entered a period of great disorders. /.../In facing these new dangers, a re-examination of old priorities is needed. Cultural diplomacy, in the widest sense, has increased in importance, whereas traditional diplomacy and military power... are of limited use in coping with most of these dangers. “ (Laquer, 1994, p.…

    • 122 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Globalization is the process by which different societies and cultures integrate through a worldwide network of political ideas through transportation, communication, and trade. Generally, globalization has affected many nations in various ways; economically, politically, and socially. It is a term that refers to the fast integration and interdependence of various nations, which shapes the world affairs on a global level. Simply put; globalization is the world coming together. In this essay I will discuss multiple perspectives on globalization through the analysis of these three sources.…

    • 720 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays