อ.จ ลลา ธ ปบ ชา สาขาภาษาอ งกฤษธ รก จ. Introduction

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "อ.จ ลลา ธ ปบ ชา สาขาภาษาอ งกฤษธ รก จ. Introduction"

Horace Rice
5 years ago
Views:

1 อ.จ ลลา ธ ปบ ชา สาขาภาษาอ งกฤษธ รก จ Introduction The United States is the world's largest trading nation. Since it is the world's leading importer, there are many U.S. dollars in circulation all around the planet. The dollar is also used as the standard unit of currency in international markets for commodities such as gold and petroleum (the latter sometimes called petrocurrency is the source of the term petrodollar). Large foreign economies such as China, Japan, Arab states of the Persian Gulf, and the EU own huge dollar reserves (especially as the US is more in debt) so there is a fear that they will move away from the dollar. China's reserves are more than $2 trillion, the world's largest. China owns an estimated $1.6 trillion of U.S. The United States is not only exporting goods but also their cultures, the so called Americanization all over the world. No matter how you like it "We are all Americans now, like it or not."

2 Americanization Americanization (or Americanisation) is the term used for the influence the United States of America has on the culture of other countries, resulting in such phenomena as the substitution of a given culture with American culture. When encountered unwillingly or perforce, it usually has a negative connotation; when sought voluntarily, it sometimes has a positive connotation 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 (Frederick C. Millett). Politics Many governments established by the United States after war or decolonization were modeled after the American system including: Japan, Germany, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, Cuba (until 1959), South Vietnam (until 1975), South Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, Grenada, and several South American Countries. In some cases leading to some accusations of being Puppet States and suspicions of being un-authentically independent countries. Media The spread of American media including TV, film and American music artists has been the main component of Americanization of other countries. American TV shows are broadcast around the world. Many of the shows are broadcast through American broadcasters and their subsidiaries such as HBO Asia, CNBC Europe, Fox Channel and CNN International. All of what is known as the "big four" American broadcasters have international distributors, and HBO broadcasts to over 20 countries.many of these distributors broadcast mainly American programming on their TV channels. According to a recent survey by Radio Times The Simpsons, Lost and Desperate Housewives are among the most watched shows, with CSI being the most watched show among the surveyed 20 countries. American films are also extremely popular globally. All of the top 20 grossing films ever are American made or have an American influence, either through publishers, cast or financiers.

3 Many American artists are known throughout the world, artists such as Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley are recognised worldwide and have sold over 500 million albums each.michael Jackson's album Thriller, at 100 million sales, is the biggest selling album of all time. American business and brands Of the top ten global brands seven are based in the United States. Coca Cola, which holds the top spot, is often viewed as a symbol of Americanization. Coca Cola has vending machines in over 200 countries worldwide. Of the 25 biggest companies, thirteen are based in the United States.Many of these companies can be viewed as selling Americanized products. Many of the world's biggest computer companies are also American, such as Microsoft, Apple Inc., Dell, and IBM. Much of the software used world wide is created by American based companies. The two largest personal computer companies, Dell and Hewlett Packard, which maintain over 30% of the market, are American based. Fast food Fast food, along with Coca-Cola, are often viewed as being symbols of American dominance and influence. Companies such as Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Dominos Pizza, among others have numerous outlets around the world.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. 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.

4 Over the past few decades, American capitalism has rapidly taken over the entire world. Not even the most communist nations of China and Russia are immune to this rapid invasion of American culture. China's youth today can not only watch The X-Files, Baywatch, and the newest films from Tom Cruise for entertainment, but also go to the American Dream Park, an amusement park in Shanghai which duplicates typical American attractions. When they get hungry, the Chinese can eat at any of 130 McDonald's restaurants or get takeout from Boston Chicken and Domino's Pizza (2). Russia, too, has been having its share of American culture. In 1996, a new McDonald's opened across the street from a government building in Minsk. As it happened, the opening coincided with a protest being held to call for a referendum on the president's use of power. Tim Snyder writes, "On my side of the street, militiamen videotaped those brave enough to speak. Across the way, their colleagues kept the hamburger line in order. Here, someone spoke of the eternity of the Belarussian nation. There, someone ordered Always Coca-Cola. I left ill at ease" (4). Canada is also having problems with Americanization. American companies now control most of Canadian industry, causing many people to wonder how long it will take before Canada becomes part of the United States (5). It goes without question that American globalization is very evident in today's world. Americanization is not only changing the world, but also causing wrong judgments to be made about American life. In a recent French poll of images that come to mind when thinking of America, 67% of those polled said "violence" and 49% "inequality" as opposed to only 20% who said "freedom" and 4% "generosity" (3). In Europe, Americans are stereotyped by globalization as being shallow, spoiled, and shortsighted. Tim Synder writes that only a little more than ten years ago, America was a great model of democracy. "As an American I was asked about Paul Revere, Thomas Jefferson, and the Constitution. In 1998, I'm asked about Paula Jones, William Jefferson Clinton, and the Fifth Amendment" (4). What happened between those ten years that would drastically change the way Europe and the world view American life? Even President Bush isn't exempt from this kind of stereotyping. When asked to describe President Bush in France, the most popular answers are "a ventriloquist's dummy" and "the Forrest Gump of American politics" (3). In Singapore, words like violence, workaholism, and disrespect for authority are all synonyms for the "American Way."

5 When looked at around the world, Americanization seems to have the opposite effect than what was imagined, causing many nations to incorrectly stereotype America. American globalization not only wrongly stereotypes us, but also causes many nations to hate the "American Way." It may have even It may have even caused the terrorist attacks on September 11. Thomas Friedman, in an article published in 1998, warns that Americanization not only creates hatred for the United States, but also allows the people who foster this hatred to do something with it - through technology. Ramzi Yousef, the man behind the first World Trade Center bombing, kept track of all his plans on a Toshiba laptop. Osama bin Laden for a time was running a multinational JOL, Jihad Online (1). Many people blame bin Laden solely for the recent terrorist attacks on the U.S. But is he the only one responsible? Who's really to blame for September 11? Look no further than the clothes you wear, the food you drink. Blame Nike, blame McDonald's, and blame Coca-Cola. These companies are the icons of Americanization - the renewed movement which is taking over the world, destroying traditions, and creating new Osama bin Ladens. Thomas Friedman writes: The American message particularly tells young people around the world that we have a better way than their fathers. This is why the Osama bin Ladens constantly speak of "American arrogance" and how America is "emasculating" the Muslims. That's why they just want to kill America. And globalization, through its rapid spread of technologies, also super-empowers them to do just that. It makes it much easier to travel, move money or communicate by satellite phones or Internet. (1) planet. As G. Pascal Zachary writes, "We are all Americans now, like it or not" (6). 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?

6 G. Pascal Zachary "We are all Americans now, like it or not." "In 1989, America was a model of a democracy and rebellion against imperial power. As an American I was asked about Paul Revere, Thomas Jefferson, and the Constitution. In 1998, I'm asked about Paula Jones, William Jefferson Clinton, and the Fifth Amendment." Tim Snyder

7 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" (1). 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 (6). 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

8 References 1. Friedman, Thomas L. "Commentary: Why Those Angry Men Want to Kill America." The New York Times: Aug. 25, Gluckman, Ron. "The Americanization of China: Forget Politics. U.S. culture has invaded the Mainland and China will never be the same." 3. Lapham, Lewis H. "The American Rome: On the Theory of Virtuous Empire." Harper's Magazine (August 2001), pp Snyder, Tim. "What Americanization Has to do With America." April 29, "The Growing Americanization of Canada." CBC News in Review: Feb /Canada 2000/Americanization.html 6. Zachary, G. Pascal. "The World Gets in Touch With Its Inner American." Mother Jones Magazine (Jan. / Feb. 1999).

Americanization, by Frederick C. Millett

Americanization, by Frederick C. Millett In today s world, the term Americanization is strongly associated with the idea of globalization. We may say that it is seen as the globalization of the world by