The idea that America ‘has no culture’ and that it’s culture is merely the result of commercialism or naturally-occurring hedonism is employed to mask the sheer quantity of violence and coercion it has taken to spread that culture worldwide.
The presence of American culture is often taken to be the mark of freedom in other countries. “Before the authoritarians came, people were listening to American music and wearing American style dress and observing American mores.“ Because what else would free people do?
‘Freedom‘, then, merely means creating the kind of environment where American corporations and media can dominate. Free trade, free markets, the free press, etc, are all legal constructs that favor large American incumbents over local suppliers of goods and services.
The ‘democratic‘ ideal is related. It will be American NGOs and foundations and media behind large, well-funded activist groups and they will be pushing ideals that further entrench American dominance. This is just another avenue for exercising power abroad.
The American political system acted as an incubator for America’s unique brand of imperialism. The federal government has always had to act through private sector proxies and use astroturfed political activism in order to bring states into line. This was simply extended abroad.
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