The Jeremiad Over Journalism

authors, adding that the United States plays a role of ―key mediator‖ in international diplomacy and
is ―obviously an influential political player on the world scene.‖ 48
Ritzer and Stillman conclude that McDonaldization, with its emphasis on efficiency and rational
principles, is on the rise but at ―the expense of individual creative energy,‖ while ―globalization‘s
insights into the diversity of other ‗global flows‘,‖ serve as a useful corollary to the ―perils of
Americanization.‖ 49
Ritzer and Stillman‘s categorization of the three main concepts rests mainly on secondary literature
and seems not to have taken the latest developments within Americanization studies into account.
The authors have used a definition for Americanization based on a book from 1962, 50 while the
definitions chosen for globalization and McDonaldization are from 1992 51 and 2000 52 respectively.
This difference in chronology seemingly plays a part in the authors‘ out-dated view of
Americanization as ―cultural imperialism‖ compared to definitions emphasizing assimilation or
asymmetrical power. 53
Christensen et al., 1983
In 1983 Peter Knoop Christensen et al. edited Amerikanisering Af Det Danske Kulturliv i Perioden
1945-58 [Americanization of the Danish Cultural Life in the Period 1945-58] a volume that the
authors described as the first study to incorporate the concept of Americanization in Danish
economy and culture after World War II. The authors define Americanization as ―the sum of the
economic, political, ideological and cultural influence we receive from USA in the period, but in
addition the development and processing of i.e. the production environment, the production
methods, the distribution patterns, social interaction, literary expressions and language.‖ 54
From the very first pages it is apparent that the authors view the struggle between labor and capital
(and by extension capitalist fueled American influence) as the driving force of history. The text
48 Ibid. Page 43.
49 Ibid. Page 46.
50 Francis Williams, The American Invasion (New York: Crown, 1962).
51 Roland Robertson, Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture (London: Sage, 1992).
52 George Ritzer, The McDonaldization of Society (Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge, 2000).
53 Ritzer and Stillman, "Assessing McDonaldization, Americanization and Globalization." Page 36. The authors use
Francis Williams‘ definition from his 1962 book The American Invasion as their characterizaiton of Americanization.
54 Peter Knoop Christensen, ed. Amerikanisering Af Det Danske Kulturliv I Perioden 1945-58. [Americanization of the
Danish Cultural Life in the Period 1945-58] (Ålborg: Ålborg Universitetsforlag,1983). Page 8.
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