When discussing culture and globalization, how do we distinguish “cultural exchange” from “cultural imperialism?” These are value-laden terms, which provoke emotional reactions. Is the difference simply in the eye of the beholder, or is there some basis on which we might evaluate international cultural trade to determine when each of these modes is operating?

            Globalization has affected many countries in different ways but mostly has given many countries access to foreign products, better access to external financing, political development, etc. When countries deal with ones foreign to them they do more than just trade products but share their cultural differences. Cultural exchange is the exchanging of students, athletes, tourists between countries to promote an understanding of different cultures. Cultural imperialism is when one culture dominates another forcing their policy’s and ethics on them.

            I believe that it is not in the eye of the beholder it is rather those two cultures decision and feelings of the interaction. If both countries agree upon letting their people communicate with the other and explore each other’s home it is cultural exchange. But if one country goes against the others will then it is cultural imperialism. For example when westerners/missionaries came to Hawaii, Hawaiians were somewhat accepting and agreed upon meeting and interacting with them. They explored each other’s cultural differences and found themselves very different from one another. But as more and more westerners came to Hawaii they found that the Hawaiian monarch was not what they were used to. They introduced government and religion to the people of Hawaii that eventually replaced Hawaiians natural way of living in Hawaii. This is an example of Cultural imperialism and today Hawaiians are still trying to maintain and recover their culture but with the influences they have endured it makes it very difficult for them. I don’t believe it is in the eye of the beholder but on how countries feel about the interaction if they agree then it is cultural exchange if they disagree it is cultural imperialism.