DILEMMA: AMERICANIZATION OR GLOBALIZATION

Abstract

Abstract 
Today we live in a world which Americans conceived and created as "their future", which we call globalization."                                                                                                        
Fatos Tarifa 
For many authors globalization is one of the forms of U.S. hegemony and the process of globalizing today is  
nothing more than a Americanization of the globe. But can we put the sign of equality between these two 
phenomens? Could the globalization be considered an American creation? In fact, The United States of America 
have historically struggled to spread their values throughout the world, self-proclaimed as universal nation whose 
values should be applied to all mankind. Products and American cultural norms in the age of globalization, have 
become global in a much greater extent than those of other countries. But such an attitude can not pass without 
challenge and becoming subject to the criticism of those nations that have historically "compete for the title" 
having the same aspirta. Indeed, the idea that America is different from other countries and that it belongs the 
mission of preaching its values around the world, found on all sides of American politics, showing us clearly the 
elements of their national identity. The feeling of being a model for the rest of the world, lies deep in the 
American national consciousness. The problem lies in the fact that this national mission runs counter the 
interests of anti-American nations in Europe, which criticizeand denounce contradictory most of the latter ones 
see as value. Therefore the aim of this paper is to make clear why globalization is fueled by the so-called 
"imperialism" of American values and culture, why some European countries are feeling the need to protect their 
values and culture and why for France, in contrast to Albania, has been so difficult to accept the spread of 
American values around the world? 
Researching the literature and documentation we realize that globalization and Americanization appear as two 
sides of the same coin, as very related phenomens to the development of the world. Globalizing model of 
"American type" has an impact on reducing the many traditions and cultures in the nations and regions of the 
world which occasionally manifest anti-American sentiments.The latter are not only a consequence of the foreign 
policy, hegemony or military force of the United States, they were born as a combination of these causes with 
which Joseph S. Nye has defined as sources of "soft power" in America, and include among others political 
values and cultural norms.