Globalisation or Americanisation:-Which is the real phenomena

Talking of today’s world ,the influence of USA and its hip-hop culture can be seen everywhere .With the end of Cold-war and collapse of USSR, as may some distracters point out, the rate and extent of Americanization has increased. But I don’t think it is very true .What we are witnessing is no invasion of American culture, rather Globalisation seen from an anti-american, pro-heritage-preserving perspective, something our so-called custodians of India-values love to show-off and fret upon.

A case in point is a recent economic slump in Indian agriculture. This year the growth in agriculture is slated to be around 2.5% (last year it was 6%) and this has been largely attributed by scientists due to a weak al-nino factor prevailing in south-America this year. This shows us, how the fate of India had become increasingly intertwined with the vagaries of world environment as well as politics .Even the inflation we are experiencing at present is being attributed to the inflation prevailing across the world .With Indian Economy increasingly becoming capitalist and the government playing minimal role, the recent cultural shock that we are experiencing now was bound to happen in India.

Circa 1965, USA was in the same situation with beatlemania a craze among the youth .Their maddening craze even provoked concern for US youth from the then President Nixon .But now we recollect it as nothing but a mass fan-frenzy and not the domination of British culture over there.

Like people in India, there are people in USA who are deeply worried about the increasing eastern influence on their culture and economy .Today, Yoga is a craze in USA and art of living seen a profession in which Indians master. Now the situation is such that a new tech company starting in Silicon Valley is not considered “promising and credit worthy” if it does not have an Indian connection to it .What is it: Call it an Indian invasion of USA? True, the manner in which USA is invading countries and controlling world politics is envious and a cause of concern but the fact is that this is partly borne out from the fear of insecurity and the thought that the third world will take over reign in days to come.

My final point is that the change in India’s policy making both in economics and foreign policy in the post-cold-war world is not pro-US .Yes, it looks like pro-US but the fact is, it is pro-globalisation where Indians can mingle with the rest of the world more freely .Even Vimal jalan underlines this fact that the change from license raj to liberalization was inevitable otherwise India would have gone into debt death-trap.

" Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory. "