What is the difference between Americanization and modernization?
I was just watching The Other Side of Outsourcing and got to wondering about this. Many of the things people point to as Americanization (growing sex and violence in the media, materialization of the culture, lessening of family bonds) mostly seem to me to be things that come with wealth and widespread prosperity, not just being exposed to America. Now I do recognize that it is largely American corporations that are often filling these gaps, but is that because they are American, or that they just do a good job? SONY’s popularity does not mean that we are “turning Japanese (I really think so!)”, it just means that they make a damn fine stereo.
Good Question…
I would say it’s more about symbolism. Suddenly formerly healthy eating workers are working overtime and eating fast food. Working overtime and eating McDonalds is viewed as typical “american” for non-healthy behaviour.
Do you blame globalization or the american multinational you work at and the other you eat at ? Not globalization. Newsweek had an article about obesity… and fast food was a major issue. Some countries though didn’t have McDonalds and saw the same trend developing anyway… local fast foods in other words.
America does set a trend though… they certainly work excessive hours and this pushes competition in other countries to keep up. Still america gets blamed wrongly I feel for the becoming modernized… when it has a small part of the guilt.
Well, if by “American” you mean focused on individualism (rather than collectivism), on political equality and equalizing opportunities, on material success and creature comforts, then I’d say, no, countries are modernizing but not Americanizing.
OTOH, if you mean buying American products, watching American movies, speaking English (at least as a second language) and following American fashions in food, clothing, music, etc. … then, sure, they’re Americanizing.