Americanization and Anti-americanism

The ongoing discussions about globalization, American hegemony and September 11 and its aftermath have moved the debate about the export of American culture and cultural anti-Americanism to center stage of world politics. At such a time, it is crucial to understand the process of culture transfer and its effects on local societies and their attitudes toward the United States. This volume presents Germany as a case study of the impact of American culture throughout a period characterized by a totalitarian system, two unusually destructive wars, massive ethnic cleansing, and economic disaster. Drawing on examples from history, culture studies, film, radio, and the arts, the authors explore the political and cultural parameters of Americanization and anti-Americanism, as reflected in the reception and rejection of American popular culture and, more generally, in European-American relations in the "American Century."

“This is a great book. Instead of simplifying the topic or getting lost in details, it presents a logical structure and a strong argument nuanced by local peculiarities… At best, an edited volume turns its reader overnight into an international expert in the field. Stephan's volume on the Americanization of as well as anti-Americanism in Europe since World War Two is such a book.”  ·  H-Net “In many respects, all of the essays in this collection are individual gems…The various pieces contribute to a clearer understanding of the interactions between American culture and anti-Americanism in a European context. They also highlight the key roles played by the Vietnam War and Hollywood in both the acceptance and the rejection of American culture. Overall, this study is a very welcome addition to the literature on the American role in the wider process of globalization.”  ·  European History Quarterly “Alexander Stephan’s well-edited collection of 15 essays dealing with anti-Americanism in a country where the U.S.’s standing was once high and has now dropped so sharply is indeed timely. The book may be helpful as well in searching for explanations of anti-Americanism in other countries, because it deals with so many aspects of this phenomenon, ranging from the political to the cultural.”  ·  German Quarterly

Alexander Stephan (1946-2009) was Professor of German, Ohio Eminent Scholar, and Senior Fellow of the Mershon Center for International Security Studies at Ohio State University, where he directed a project on American culture and anti-Americanism in Europe and the world.