Thomas Barnett gave an amazing presentation at Pop!Tech and I saw that Boing Boing had this link to a Barnett presentation. I want to consider the least-known weapon in the American arsenal - the Culture Bomb. Thomas Barnett knows the power of the C-bomb and how it can codify an enemy and create a cultural divide that drives the divide between us and them further.
The sad thing is that we are not in control of the C-bomb. Its effects are slow and seeping. In Turkey Barbie dolls were rejected, in India McDonald's offering of beef patties were shunned, and France has declared the SUV an American blight destine to ruin the roads of Europe which should be kept out at all costs. Western democratic culture embraces amazing ideals such as equality, sovereignty, and individual choice. I am not quite sure that commercialism, excess, and gluttony aren't the ideals that we are actually exporting. How in the world will fast food promote equality amongst the world's population?
Our corporate lust for global profits is taking its toll on our security by creating a cultural divide. We should be celebrating the unique aspects of every culture instead of forcing square pegs into round holes. Not everyone wants the life we have, and my new years resolution is to do a better job respecting that!
Comments