The Jeremiad Over Journalism

transferring technology and previously unknown consumer goods, individual knowledge exchanges,
and economic aid in the shape of the Marshall Plan combined with cultural-diplomatic activity. 132
Furthermore, Sørensen rejects a view of Americanization as being cultural imperialism, where the
people of the receiving end are helplessly exposed to the overwhelming impulses from the United
States, but instead embraces what he calls the cultural encounter model. In Sørensens view, ―it is
obvious, that the actors who historically have driven the Americanization processes forward, must
be sought on both sides of the Atlantic.‖ 133 Yet, despite this individual agency on both sides of the
Atlantic, Americanization and Europeanization do not hold equal weight, but are to be understood
as an asymmetric power-relationship with the United States, more often than not, setting the
agenda.
According to Sørensen, the precondition for processes of Americanization is naturally the
Europeanization of North America. The author thereby underlines the importance of not seeing
Americanization as being one-directional. On the contrary, Sørensen uses the example of the
American Revolution to demonstrate the complexity of such ―transnational processes.‖ According
to Sørensen the American Revolution served as a model for Europeans resisting autocracy but the
American Revolution found its ideology through the work of European intellectuals. 134
Sørensens chapter is an excellent synthesis of Americanization studies‘ current state in Denmark,
but it draws heavily on secondary literature based on studies in other European countries and
utilizes little empirical data to support or contest these developments taking place in Denmark. In
that sense it offers very little concrete advice concerning how to go about conducting a study of
Americanization. 135
132 Nils Arne Sørensen, "Kulturmøder, Selvkolonisering Og Imperialisme Om USAmerikaniseringen Af Europa
[Cultural Encounters, Selfcolonialization and Imperialism About USAmericanization of Europe," in Transnationale
Historier [Transnational Histories], ed. Anne Magnussen Sissel Bjerrum Fossat, Klaus Petersen, Nils Arne Sørensen,
(Odense: Syddansk Universitetsforlag, 2009). Page 183-188. Sørensen here refers to Coca Cola and chewing gum as
consumer goods and printing presses among other items in terms of technology.
133 Ibid. Page 190.
134 Ibid. See also ———, "Er Vi Blevet Ameridanere? Om Amerikaniseringsprocesser Gennem 200 År [Have We
Become Ameri-Danes? On Americanization Processes through 200 Years]," Historielærerforeningen for Gymnasiet og
HF, no. 177 (2008).
135 The example of Jolly Cola, Yankie Bar, and Dandy chewing gum are, along with a play called ―Ideale Magter [Ideal
Powers] and a brief reference to the Congress for Cultural Freedom, the only Danish examples that Sørensen draws on.
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