10 - Globalization

Globalization is a process of interconnectedness among nations, cultures, and people. With the help of technology, countries are able to interact with each other faster and more efficiently. Because of this shorter time-space interaction, companies are able to expand around the world and trade with one another. However, a negative effect of globalization is cultural imperialism.


Cultural imperialism is the domination of a country's culture by another. In other words, a powerful country's culture will overpower a weaker country's culture. Then, the weaker country will begin to acknowledge the powerful country's culture as their own and their culture will fade away. The problem with cultural imperialism is that if one culture becomes dominant all around the world then multiculturalism, diversity, and identity will be lost and everyone will become the same, undistinguishable.

An example of cultural imperialism is portrayed by the film industry. Today, 80% of movies shown outside of the United States are produced in the United States. All other cultures are becoming westernized or “Americanized” with the help of the film industry because people copy what they see in films. So, if people all over the world are watching American films, they will start to act like Americans and become interested in similar things.

American culture is spreading rapidly around the world with the help of the film industry. Globalization may be brought upon by an interconnectedness of nations; however, through cultural imperialism, the world is slowly but surely becoming “Americanized.”