NationStates Jolt Archive


There's no such thing as cultural imperialism...

Greill
30-04-2006, 03:40
… only intellectual sloth.

What those opponents of so-called “cultural imperialism” are really railing against is the free exchange of ideas, as they are not protesting the military coercion of people to be forced to adopt a way of life, but rather when people voluntarily choose to engage in a different way of life, thinking, or otherwise adopt practices outside of their “native” culture. For an example of so-called “cultural imperialism”, think of all of the philosophies that are discussed daily and advanced on NationStates. Classic liberalism has its roots in such English thinkers as Adam Smith and John Locke. Objectivism’s founder, Ayn Rand, was a Russian. Karl Marx was a German. Many of the former’s ideas were influenced by such great Greek minds as Aristotle and Plato. As a personal example, a few non-Americans on these boards have changed my personal philosophy as well. This is all due to the social phenomena of cultural diffusion, whereby people adopt ideas and ways of life etc. that they like or find value from other cultures.

Now, did someone put a gun to my head, your head, or the head of any of the followers of the above ideologies and say “Change your ideas and culture or we’ll kill you”? Are people threatened by McDonald’s to go to their fast food restaurants and eat the food there or die a horrible, gruesome death? For the most part, people choose their ideologies by free will; the vast majority of people consume goods and services entirely by their own choice. Of course, the opponents of the free exchange of ideas would want you to think otherwise, what with their grandiose, deceptive language. These critics think that people adopting the ways of other countries and cultures is somehow bad, and that their “own” culture is supposedly superior to that of those being adopted. This, despite the voluntary consent of the one who is adopting the different ways, who believes that there is a benefit in adaptation. Apparently, it doesn’t matter what the individual thinks- what matters is what others styling themselves as his intellectual superiors believe.

The truth is that the critics of the free-exchange of ideas are actually intellectual sloths. Since the “original” culture that is being changed doesn’t seem to have enough appeal to be able to compete, the government must step in and stop the supposed cultural hemorrhaging. It doesn’t matter what the individual thinks or wants, it is what a few elites believe that is more important, and that the individual should be coerced into following this line of thought. Interesting that instead of proving their philosophies and ways of life superior in public discourse, the critics of the free-exchange of ideas instead opt to have the government step in and force everyone into doing what the critics want.

What right do the critics have that allows them to push their own philosophy and way of life on others, superseding their right to personal choice of lifestyle, when they can’t even defend it fairly and prove its worth against those other philosophies and ways of life?
Free Farmers
30-04-2006, 04:08
Although I agree with you that culture diffusion and free exchange of ideas is good, at the same time I see how some people want to protect cultural identity. Many people hold traditions very near and dear and don't want to see them "perverted" or changed in society by cultural adoption and adaptation. I do, however, believe that sometimes countries force their cultures on others. Often people see their culture as superior and ones that are polar opposite must therefore be "savage" or such nonsense. Therefore they use their influence to invade other nations and areas and insert their culture against the will of the nations/areas they have entered.
Jello Biafra
30-04-2006, 15:10
There is a such thing as cultural imperialism, but the term isn't always used correctly.
Llanarc
30-04-2006, 15:34
What often happens with supposed "cultural imperialism" is that a younger generation will embrace another cultures values etc (or at least some of them) as a form of rebellion against their parents in particular and conformity in general (which is ironic as they are themselves conforming to a stereotype in doing this :) ). However, later on either in their lives or those of their children, people willstart to bemoan the loss of cultural identity and the old values and icons will have a resurgence. A complex hybrid culture is then born. Which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Soheran
30-04-2006, 15:41
There is a such thing as cultural imperialism, but the term isn't always used correctly.

Yes. The (failed) repression of the indigenous cultures in much of the Americas comes to mind.