“Globalization is a misnomer. The better word is Americanization." - Advertising/Marketing giant WPP Group CEO, Sir Martin Sorrell
US culture, and Anglo culture in general has been sweeping the world since at least 1776. It is the longest, most consistent mega trend ongoing today. I had a long conversation with an Emirati arab executive who spent many years in San Diego. He vociferously denied that this was what was happening: he argued that it was 'modernization', not westernization, much less Americanization.
But if that is the case, then why does all of the 'modernization' come from the west or its imitators? And why is most of the new culture that his daughters were adopting American in its origin?
Around the world arrestees commonly ask for their miranda rights, even though Miranda is an American law - they've long since begun thinking of criminal justice in American terms.
Today, a Japanese wanting to get food 'just like home' in Paris will go to McDonalds and drink a Coca Cola.
Local elites hate this because it reduces their influence and power - they realize that their choices are limited - not only by their culture but by American cultural norms that have seeped in. They realize that to get global support and respect, they must couch their aims in ways that the Anglo world can comprehend and support. Many of them produce two narratives: one in English to conform to the global norm and one in their local language that contradicts it. But this only works so long as their publics have limited English. The more English they have, the more they notice the incongruence.
Just ask Hosni Mubarak.
No wonder the global elites hate us so much. If I were in their shoes I'd be angry too.
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