The Jeremiad Over Journalism

systematically sought to influence Danish ―opinion makers within the media, politics, and the
educational system, as well as arts and culture.‖ 124
Through archival and etymological studies, secondary literature and interviews Petersen and
Sørensen present a convincing case that information was transmitted to the Danes from the
American Embassy, that exchange programs enabled many current and future prominent Danes to
experience the United States, and that there were also covert attempts, for example sponsored by the
CIA, to influence Danish public opinion.
In elite cultural circles, jazz served as an important inspiration and example of how American music
practices were adopted and adapted by a domestic Danish audience, and in terms of mass culture
Hollywood movies, Readers Digest (in Danish called Det Bedste) as well as Donald Duck comics
were hugely popular. ―In every one of these cases, an American cultural style was imported to
Denmark and eventually integrated,‖ writes Petersen and Sørensen. 125
Yet, despite their convincing depiction of American cultural, economic and political influence, the
authors never really define what they mean by ―American,‖ and though they allude to two
America‘s in their discussion of anti-Americanism in Denmark, it is not always clear which
―America‖ it is that influences Denmark. A clearer definition of what is meant by Americanization
would have been desirable as well as a discussion of whether or not using American products also
equals Americanization. As it is the reader is left to sort out what is overt and what is covert
influence and is seldom given concrete examples of what the effects of this influence was. 126
The authors also emphasize influence from Germany and Britain and demonstrate that direct
American influence did not become prevalent until the 1960‘s. Yet, Petersen and Sørensen
potentially underestimate the Americanization of British and German culture which was later
exported to Denmark. Van Elteren considers this a form of Americanization by ―secondary
124
Petersen and Sørensen, "Ameri-Danes and Pro-American Anti-Americans." Page 117-118. According to the authors,
the programs were, ―those making information about the United States available for Danes, those influencing Danish
institutions to adopt and use American propaganda products as their own, and – as evidenced by specific examples –
those providing secret support to pro-American Danish operators.
125
Ibid. Page 132. Sørensen and Petersen thereby implicitly alludes to a similar understanding of the Americanization
process as van Elteren
126
Ibid. Page 127. One well-chosen example is the Danish industry, where the authors demonstrate that in terms of
industrial relations, scientific management and rationalization, Danes adopted American practices. These concrete
examples offer tangible support for the Americanization argument.
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