cultural-imperialism-a-discourse-vol-9-no-1-2008

Overview of Cultural Imperialism

• Cultural imperialism involves the imposition of dominant cultures from powerful nations onto weaker ones, affecting various dimensions of life including social, political, and economic aspects.

• The study examines cultural imperialism, addressing its pervasive influence and suggesting means to mitigate its effects.

Introduction to Cultural Imperialism

• Defined within a global context, cultural imperialism emerged from the nexus of globalization affecting Third World countries.

• Key figure Marshall McLuhan envisioned a global village, yet the disruptive nature of globalization necessitated critical examination.

• Rothkopf (1997) emphasized globalization's cultural significance alongside economic roots.

Defining Cultural Constructs

Culture

• Definition: Culture encompasses the way of life, traditions, beliefs, and practices of a group as defined by Reddi (1987).

• Culture is dynamic, reflecting shifting patterns influenced by society's various subsystems.

Imperialism

• Definition: Morgenthau describes imperialism as expanding a state's power and overturning power dynamics through coercive influence.

• Lenin considers it a stage of international capitalism, exerting dominance over weaker nations.

Theories and Terms Related to Cultural Imperialism

• Various terms linked to cultural imperialism include:

  • Media imperialism (Boyd-Banet, 1977)

  • Structural imperialism (Galtung, 1979)

  • Communication imperialism (Sui-Nan Lee, 1988)

• Schiller (1976) views cultural imperialism as a process of integrating societies into a dominated modern world system.

Perspectives on International Communication

Three Schools of Thought

• Conservatives: Deny existing imbalances in international information flows, advocating for the naturally uneven nature of communication (US Department of State, 1982).

• Reformists: Acknowledge concerns of imbalance due to Western dominance and call for restructuring international media systems.

• Structuralists: Argue that the West's desire to maintain control underpins global information disparities.

Historical Context of Imperialism

• The narrative of imperialism dates back to the slave trade and evolved through colonial exploitation of territories in Africa.

• Galtung (1979) outlines five types of imperialism: economic, political, military, communication, and cultural.

Current Implications and Findings

• Meyer (1988) suggested that factors like press freedom and imported media correlate with cultural imperialism, indicating complex interdependencies.

• Potential impacts of cultural imperialism include:

  • Stereotyping local industries (Edeami, 1991)

  • Media influence on vulnerable populations (Beltan, 1976)

Tools of Cultural Imperialism

• Native Capital: Local elites legitimizing dependency systems aiding cultural synchronization (Hamelink, 1983).

• Media: Primarily foreign films and television serve to reinforce ideologies and cultural values aligning with their origins.

  • Ekweazi (1991): Films act as cultural encyclopedias reflecting national identities.

• Communication Technology: Satellite broadcasting facilitates cultural exchanges, predominantly favoring dominant nations (Sinclair, 1995).

Theoretical Framework

• Cultural imperialism theory posits that Western nations control global media, negatively impacting Third World cultures (Schiller, 1976).

• This framework intersects with Uses and Gratifications and Agenda Setting theories, explaining media dependency and influence dynamics.

Arguments Supporting Cultural Imperialism

• Organizations like UNESCO define cultural policy as essential for meeting societal needs, leading to varying opinions on cultural imperialism's validity.

• Some thinkers argue that imbalances in information flow stem from a lack of indigenous news systems (Larson, 1979).

After Thoughts and Proposed Solutions

• Despite arguments for cultural imperialism, studies show serious detriments to local cultures.

• Recommendations for addressing cultural imperialism include:

  • Developing robust national communication frameworks to enhance local capacities for media production.

  • Emphasizing self-reliance to resist cultural domination and promote authentic cultural expression.

• MacBride (1980) champions comprehensive national communication policies to rectify imbalances in information flow.