DOCUMENT RESUME ED 219 318 SO 014 177 AUTHOR Everitt, John TITLE Changing Patterns of Cultural Imperialism in a Developing Country. PUB DATE Apr 82 NOTE 17p.; Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers (San Antonio, TX, April 26, 1982). EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Communications; Cultural Influences; Developed Nations; *Developing Nations; Economic Development; Economic Factors; Exports; *Imperialism; Land Acquisition; Migration Patterns; Military Training; Political Influences; Social Influences; Socioeconomic Influences IDENTIFIERS *Belize ABSTRACT Using Belize, Central America, as an example, this paper illustrates some of thechanging patterns of cultural imperialism that can presently be viewed in the emerging nations of the world. Culturalcimperialism is defined as the processwhereby the culture of a weaker nation is dominated by that of a strongernation. In September 1981, Belize, formerlyBritish Honduras, gained its political indepenci.nce from the United Kingdom. In the pastthemajor force influencing the Belizean culture came from theBritish Isles. The trend now is toward an increasing patternof-Americanization and a corresponding decreasein British influence. The paper examines current imperialist patterns which reflectthis trend: economic imperialism and socio - political imperialism. The private landin Belize is now largely owned by U.S. interests. In the worldsof finance and trade, there is also a growing North American orientation. The unit of currency in Belize is now the dollar. Many of Belize's exports such as sugar and seafood come to theUnited States. The U.S. influence can also be seen in theproduction process. The Hershey foods ship cacao toPennsylvania and an American born doctor grows and sells mangoes to the United States. The U.S. socio-political imperialism can be seen in communications, migrations, and the military. For example, mos,. vehicles inBelize are now American; one of themajor sources of immigrants is North America and this .is also the most important destination for emigrants; and the Uni d States has recently agreed to provide training for the Beliz,Defense Force. (RM) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OFEDUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) )(I'M document has been reproduced as Wended from the person or organization ongmaungq Minor changes have ben made to improve Changing Patterns ofCulturalTmperialiso ina °production quality Points of view or opinions stated in this docu- ment do not necessarily represent ofLcral NIE Developing Country position or policy "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY John Everitt 07 C. Ever BrandonUniversity TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." A paper presented to the Annual Meetings of the Association of American Geogrs phere, San Antonio, Texas,April 26, 1982. INTRODUCTION This paper will illustrate some of the changing patterns of cultural imperialism that can presently be viewedin the emerging nations of the world. Culturalimperialism is the process whereby the culture of a weakernation is dom:natedby that of a stronger nation - where 'culture' is taken to be the "total wayof life held in commonby a group of people" (Jordan and Rowntree, 1979:30). The example used in this research to illustratethese variations in cultural imperialism, over time and over space, will be that of Belize, Central America. This country only recently- in September 1981 - gained its political independence from theUnited Kingdom tobecome a separate memberof the 'British componwealth of Nations as well as an individual member of what Buchanan terms the "commonwealth of poverty"- N. the Third World (1980:29). It has been suggested that two of the "most glaring facts" --'4 in the' contemporary world are: .2-- a) "the tremendous inequality, within and bet4n nations inalmost all aspects of human living conditions" and 2 f 1 (b) "the resistance of this inequality to change"(Galtung, 1980:261) I will not be going into detailabout the first fact although its truth willbecome apparent during the discussion. I will, however, be demonstrating anumber of the variables wi-ich help to make the second fact a particularly significant contemporary problem. In particular, I will showthat much of the resistance to change resultsfrom cultural imperialism which isnot abatingwith thepolitical independence of emerging nations but is rather being reinforcedby influences that emanate from the newcentre nations of the world - in this case the UnitedStates is 'taking over' as a cultural force from the United Kingdom. Three phases (pst, present, and poten'ial future) and two types be (economic, and socio-political) of cultural imperialism will e phasisedinthis research. Astress will beplaced onthe contemporary. situation in Belize, as this is where alternative sources of documentation are lacking, but a brief review of some of the history of Belize as a British Possession willbe given in order to set the scene for the present-day patternsof in`eraction Cultural Imperialism in the Past Although muchof what isnow Belize was once settled bythe Maya, this ethnic group has nothad a major effect uln the development of contemporary Belizeanculture, although recently an awakening of the country toits "historic roots" gives an impressionof a greater debt 2 than is in fact the case. The major force influencing the Belizean cultureuntil recently came, as did so many that have shaped the contemporary Americas, from Europe - and especially fromthe British Isles. Consequently, all of the subcultures within Belize exhibit British or British derivative traitswithin their cultural baggage. This external influence is clear even inthe plural population of Belize which even more than the Americas in general had its origins in immigration. Many of the Maya that were present at the time of the arrivalof Europeans in this area disappeared as "a result of the conquest and subsequentsocial dislocation, famineandepidemics" (Bollancl, 1977:3-4). The British logwood cutters beganimporting black slaves early in the eighteenth century and thisgroupwere followed at later dates by Black Caribs, Spanish-Mexican colonists, Maya Indians, mestizos, some Chinese and Indian indenturedlabourers, and a variety of smaller units of immigrants. The economy ofthe country has been similarly daninated by external influences. Originally logwood, and later mahogany and pine dominated trade and the country was organised as a "plantation -latifundia society" (Rolland et al, 1977:119)based upon timber exploitation rather than a crop such assugar. The forest products industrydecreased insignificance during the nineteenth century, however, and this decline has continued to the present day. Since theSecond World War, the economy has been supplemented by more traditional patterns of tropical ipgriculture (such as sugarand fruit) and these have gradually assumeda greater significance in the exportpatterns of Belize. As with timber exploitation this growthhas, however, been verymuch dependent upon foreign ownership and guaranteed markets. in Great Britain, and the United States. Politically, Belize has always been strongly influenced by external forces. The itish settlers were themselves continuallytroubled by ....);/1 the Spaniards and the settlement did not get any recognisedstatus until 1760. The country did not become a Crown Colony until 1871but then was n't granted independenceuntil 1981. This late date for independence may be largely attributed to apersistent threat from Guatemala (which still refuses to recognise Belize) ratherthan an attempt by the British governmentto hold ontocolonial power. It is alsoa factthat independence was eventually gained because of outside influences and in particular from the O.A.S. and the U.N. In both theeffects of U.S. pressure, in a complete departure fromtraditional policy were felt, and the United States government additionally contributed "by prevailing on the Guatemalans not to do anything that would(adversely) affect" Belize (George Price in The New Belize Vol XI, No. 9:14). Significantly, belize's firstdiplomatic appointment as an independent nation later turned out to be a charge d'affaires in Washington,D.C. Contemporary Imperialist Patterns Although the cultural forces from outside Belize can bc! seen to have affected all elements of the country, a number of major thrusts' can be identifiedand will be outlined in some detail in this paper. In particularthe imperialistrelationshipwith the economy will be investigated, an4 secondly some of the. effects upon thesocio-political- realm will be documented. 4 (a) Economic Imperialism In the various hinterland areas of the world, one constant question is howto escape the endemic poverty that characterises them. The problem of exactly what development is and how it should be attained has never been agreed upon ;Berry, et al, 1976:265), but within Belize the commonWesternview which` is defined "in terms ofdegreesof urbanisatioft, commercialisation, indus,rialisation, modernisation, and p-r capitaproduction and consumption" has been adopted (Berryet.al, 1976:265). One result ofthis has been that a dual economy has grown up. Originally this dual economy was made up of the wood exploitation system and that of the