Anti-Americanism and Popular Culture

If something about anti-Americanism has really changed since 2001, popular culture can hardly be blamed. But if the attitudes expressed and the policies enacted by the US population and government synchronize with the methods and messages of popular culture, then a proportion of anti-American feeling can be attributed to its influence. The rich vein of anti-US sentiment relates to four issues, each of which is given considerable attention in most parts of the world: • economics; • militarism; • politics; and • culture. This report is principally concerned with the last category, though as we shall see, it is inseparable from the others. The bulk of the report examines points of continuity since 2001 rather than rupture, since most of the infrastructure and impact of US popular culture on export were in place before that time. There is some consideration of new diplomatic attempts to influence the country’s image abroad. The report discusses the following topics: • key terms; • US cultural dominance; • opposition; • role of the state; and • conclusion and recommendations