International Encyclopedia of Communication Online

Extract

The cultural imperialism thesis states, broadly, that a powerful country uses cultural means to achieve or support the political and economic ends of imperialism that were historically attained through military force and occupation. In this view, the tools of culture can smooth the way for domination by exposing people to lifestyles to aspire to, products to desire, and even new sources of allegiance (→  Culture: Definitions and Concepts ). Overall, the notion of cultural imperialism appears embedded in critiques of the substantial US export of media programming to other countries. Those lodging the charge of cultural imperialism – found mainly in scholarly, political, activist, and diplomatic realms – have asserted that western films, TV shows, and commodities serve as →  propaganda for a consumerism-based capitalist model of society (→  Consumer Culture ). Gaining adherents for this model, the argument goes, would create overseas markets and political environments favorable to western – particularly US – interests (→  Americanization of the Media ). In the process, the autonomy of receiving countries, as well as their cultures, values, and identities, would be weakened or destroyed. This idea is not limited to the contemporary setting: it has been applied to practices of, for example, Britain, Japan, the Ottoman Empire, France, Spain, and other imperial powers throughout history. ... log in or subscribe to read full text