Cultural imperialism

The practice of promoting a more powerful and more desirable culture is known as the cultural imperialism.  This cultural imperialism has been a practice of economically powerful nation. But, in due course of time this has become even the practice of smaller and less powerful nations. The cultural imperialism also takes the form of a formal policy.

If you reckon the emergence of the cultural imperialism, the term has appeared almost somewhere around the 1960s. The other terms which go in hand with cultural imperialism are “structural imperialism”, “media imperialism”, “cultural synchronization”, “electronic colonialism” and “ideological imperialism”. These entire isms coincide together in giving the same concept of Cultural imperialism.

Electronic imperialism is referred to as dependency relationship by Tom McPhail. The foreign-produced software, the communication hardware, and also the technicians were imported from foreign countries has established dependency relationship. According to Sui Nam communication imperialism is the process in which the ownership over a certain hardware or software of mass media has subjugated to the domination of another country. The effects were deleterious on the values and the culture of a country.

Media imperialism is on the other hand is the domination of the United States and the Western Europe. The U.S and the Western Europe produce most of the media products. They make enormous profit from it. After making domestic profits they then market them in the Third World countries at a lower price.

Communication studies have been the main source for the emergence of the issue of cultural imperialism. The main reason for opposing cultural imperialism is the preservation of cultural diversity. Those who propose cultural diversity fight for the cause because they feel that cultural diversity makes more ways to solve problems and they argue that the diversity is very valuable.

Edward Said, the Palestinian writer who is known for his post colonial writings and orientalism plays a vital role in cultural imperialism. The main focus of his works is to bring to light the inaccuracies and assumptions about the societies and its cultures. He has been one of the founders of post-colonial study where he spoke much about cultural imperialism.

The politician, theologians, and academicians sometimes use the work culture to ensure order. Looking at the genocides of the twentieth century one can know how the leaders have fuelled the passions of theirs armies and justified their actions using the name culture.

Concentrating on multiculturalism the United States, Canada, India and European Union suggest that tolerance is the key for social well-being.

Questions

• What is media imperialism?
• What is the main focus of Edward Said?