Role Of Americanization In Canada

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Americanization in Canada
Americanization is the influence of the United States on the culture of another country. The influence extends on another countries cuisine, popular culture, technology, political techniques and business practices. Americanization refers to a process of acculturation by populations to American values and cultures. Canada and the United States are allies and trading partners (Timothy, 135). The two countries have had a long history of cooperation with each other. Cooperation between the two countries has been promoted by the fact that the two countries are neighbors. Canada began developing relationships with the United States after the Canadian confederation.
The nation began their reliance on the United States for their national defense. Many Canadians believe that the country’s economic, political and military dependence on the United States would not make a difference in their day to day life activities. The Americans have influence more than the Canadian culture. Aspects in relation to media, economic dependence, American propaganda, artists and political pressure from the United States have made Canada too Americanized. The factors that make Canada too Americanized reflect mainly on the social life witnessed among many Canadians. They are viewed as risk hazards because they threaten the traditions and heritage that define the nation as an independent country. The US and Canada have close cultural ties that are advanced by similarities of language as both nations speak English as the national language. Canada gained self-domination of its internal affairs in the year 1867. However, during this time, Britain continued to control defense and diplomacy policies. The United States and Canada cooperated closely during World War II (Timothy, 135). The two nations were aimed at raising their international viability. The relationship between the two countries continued to grow. Canada became extremely close to the US during the cold war. In the early 1970’s, the United States was Canada’s largest market. The relationship between the two countries was brought to an end by the enactment of the Nixon shock that governed the country’s economic policies by creating a 10% tariff on imports. Another issue that emerged was the signing of the Canada- US free trade agreement in the 1980’s (Kevin, 30). Since the signing of the free trade agreement between US and Canada, there have been no tariffs issued for movement of goods. Canada and the United States are said to be going through a small nation, big neighbor syndrome. This has played a major role in enabling both countries to be the biggest trade partners in the world. A larger percent of populations in both countries consider the two nations as the same in relation to how things are run. However, there remain small populations who share different opinions on the matter (Timothy, 135). The United States has been successful over the years in making security systems for the elderly and creating medical help. On the other hand, Canada has been relying on the entrenched system in the constitution that balanced welfare provisions. Bashevkin states that it is simpler for Canadian citizens to get health care assistance from welfare. He adds that the Canadian welfare system is distinct from that of the United States. However, Canada’s welfare system is even while that of the United States is uneven. Canada is an executive political system that is comprised of different languages and regional bonds. The control of executive, legislative and judicial laws in the country lies mainly on the hands of the Prime Minister. The centralized control system enables the political elites in the majority government to impose their preferences faster and more readily than the executives who exist in a decentralized case for instance the US. The constitutional separation of powers in the U.S creates several veto points across the government branches. The American president is unable to command concentrated institutional levers. Therefore, it is evident that the Canadian government is not to Americanized based on powers bestowed upon state heads.
The national identity of Canada has been defined by its relationship with the United States since before confederation. Diverse tensions experienced between believers in the economic benefits of closer commercial relations between the US and Canada has been used to characterize their relationship. Many have feared that free trade would make Canada more like America. This was in the sense of creating unions in terms of values and culture. The Canada-US free trade agreement of 1988 led to conflicts that have been evident for years. Those against the agreement indicated that they could cause wages to decline, jobs to be lost and inequality to increase (Timothy, 135). The free trade causes Canada’s national identity to be undermined. Additionally, it led to the violation of distinctive policies. The proponents of free trade indicated that they could foster economic benefits and at the same time denied that it would attribute to the Americanization of Canada.
Globalization in Canada is 80% Americanization. The figure is a representation of the percentage of exports that leave Canada for the United States. Additionally, it is simplistic to minimize the complicated nature of US influence in relation to the trade relations. The percentage also acts as a representation of the essential aspect the US plays in Canada’s external relations with the world. Bashevkin states that the percentage is conservative based on the exposure of Canada to the content of American media. North American integration is based on consequences of continental integration that have not been widely believed (Kevin, 30). A rise in trade dependence as a result of the Free Trade Agreement and the increasing dominance of the American global media make the border between the two countries matter. Some policy instruments in Canada have been surrendered in the exchange to gain access to the larger markets. Additionally, it is evident that pressure from harmonization exists and has increased significantly. Regardless of the aspects of Americanization, Canada has managed to retain a significant space that enables it to maneuver in areas where policy is affected by the growing economic integration.
Canada holds a position between France and the US in characteristics such as an open society, limited government and internationalism. The same applies in cultural politics. The US and Canada indulge in international culture cooperation by engaging in multipartite and bipartite activities. According to Mulcahy, where one sits determines where they stand. This is the principle the two countries run by making them interesting. Culture in the US is judged based on a sidebar in the political spectrum of politics among nations (Kevin, 30). Cultural expression in the country is viewed as a commodity. Culture is a central concern for Canada and its bilateral relationship with the US.
International trade agreement has affected political, cultural and economic relations between Canada and the US to an extent that is unusual. The work process of the two nation’s cultural sector raises a debate in relation to political subjects on values becoming Americanized. Cultural practices in Canada are given priority regardless of the nation’s sensitivity towards its coherence and identification. Cultural relations between Canada and the US have their own identity in the divergent and heterogeneous ways between adjoining population and neighbor commonality keeping in mind the geographical conditions of Canada. This concludes that rational, cultural and political mix of Canadian culture and values stand more on the dependency of the US. The American government has played major roles in the support of Canada and her endeavor’s.
Small nations with big neighbors as is the case between Canada and the US often lead to awkward cultural relations.
However, this does not suggest a loss in the political sovereignty of Canada. Canada has often been viewed as the 51st State of America based on their relationship. This is evidence enough that the nation has been extensively Americanized. Canada lacks a unique point that acts as an advantage in differentiating them from the US and giving them an upper hand on the countries. For instance, less than 1 % of the movies watched in America are foreign (Kevin, 30). On the other hand, over 60% of the films watched in Canada are foreign. The attitude witnessed and the vast cultural diversities in the American industry stand as evidence of the Americanization of Canada.
The US has taken dominance over the Canadian Free Trade agreement since the beginning of the confederation. The rivalry between the US and the UK is viewed to have remained the same since after World War II. Rivalry between the two nations was attributed by an increase in trade with the US. Imports between the 2 countries were measureable. However, imports from the UK were more than those of the US. The World War led to a major impact on the economic policies and trade of nations. Markets were devastated to a point where 70% of the imports from Canada came from the
US.
The wake of the Trade Agreement led to an increase of 15% dependence of Canada on imports from the US. Exports during this time constituted of 40% of the total GDP with the US controlling 84% of the recorded total. The levels of trade dependence on the US are record setting. Additionally, this meant that majority of the products in Canada originated from America making the country extensively Americanized (Kevin, 30). A small population of Canadians belongs to major linguistic societies and is ideally positioned to act as mediators on a global perspective that is an alternative to the American entertainment. A hybrid Canadian culture is capable of serving as a model to other nations that seek to retain their identity and heritage without falling victim to dependency. The hybrid culture is bi-lingual, post-colonial and multicultural. These aspects have enabled them to retain their culture and heritage regardless of the high levels of Americanization in the country. The community accounts for 22% the Canadian population. According to Kevin, the US does not have such a society.
Multiculturalism is bound to accommodate both collective rights and individual rights. The American culture considers everyone in the country legally equal. On the other hand, an individual is guaranteed to retain their identity and become Canadian. Therefore, Canada has a more sophisticated experience with policies that are aimed at protecting cultural diversity. The Canadian culture does not rely heavily on American policies and principles of assimilation and homogenization. Canada is considered a cultural mosaic (Kevin, 32). Canada has several choices to make in relation to the Free Trade Agreement. America’s free trade area is under negotiation with the aim of getting Americans properly engaged. However, the progress of the trade agreement is directed at increasing international economic integration rather than decreasing it.
It is evident that Canada is becoming Americanized. However, considering welfare and healthcare, the political culture of Canada clearly defines them as different compared to the US. Additionally, free trade gives Canada an edge over the US (Kevin, 30). The Canadian culture is different compared to the US regardless of the fact that they celebrate the same festivals. The US and Canada celebrate the festivals in different ways affecting a lot and also creating an impact in the differentiation of the two countries. The Canadian culture has been similar to that of the US. This reflects on a high impact of the nation becoming Americanized.
In conclusion, Americanization is the influence of the United States on the culture of another country.
The influence extends on another countries cuisine, popular culture, technology, political techniques and business practices. Canada and the United States are allies and trading partners. The two countries have had a long history of cooperation with each other. Canada and the United States are said to be going through a small nation, big neighbor syndrome. Canada is an executive political system that is comprised of different languages and regional bonds. Canada’s welfare system is even while that of the United States is uneven. The national identity of Canada has been defined by its relationship with the United States since before confederation. The proponents of free trade indicated that they could foster economic benefits and at the same time denied that it would attribute to the Americanization of Canada. Globalization in Canada is 80%
Americanization.
Regardless of the aspects of Americanization, Canada has managed to retain a significant space that enables it to maneuver in areas where policy is affected by the growing economic integration. Canada holds a position between France and the US in characteristics such as an open society, limited government and internationalism. Culture is a central concern for Canada and its bilateral relationship with the US. International trade agreement has affected political, cultural and economic relations between Canada and the US to an extent that is unusual. Small nations with big neighbors as is the case between Canada and the US often lead to awkward cultural relations. The US has taken dominance over the Canadian Free Trade agreement since the beginning of the confederation. The wake of the Trade Agreement led to an increase of 15% dependence of Canada on imports from the US. Multiculturalism is bound to accommodate both collective rights and individual rights. It is evident that Canada is becoming Americanized. The Canadian culture is different compared to the US regardless of the fact that they celebrate the same festivals. Canada is considered a cultural mosaic. A hybrid Canadian culture is capable of serving as a model to other nations that seek to retain their identity and heritage without falling victim to dependency. The hybrid culture is bi-lingual, post-colonial and multicultural.
Work Cited
Gravelle, Timothy. "Love Thy Neighbo (u) r? Political Attitudes, Proximity and the Mutual Perceptions of the Canadian and American Publics." Canadian Journal of Political Science (2014) 47#1 pp: 135-157. Print.
Holland, Kenneth. "The Canada–United States defence relationship: a partnership for the twenty-first century." Canadian Foreign Policy Journal ahead-of-print (2015): 1-6. Online
Mount, Graeme. And Edelgard Mahant, Invisible and Inaudible in Washington: American Policies toward Canada during the Cold War. 1999, 45. Print.
Muirhead, Bruce. "From Special Relationship to Third Option: Canada, the U.S., and the Nixon Shock," American Review of Canadian Studies, Vol. 34, 200; pp. 56. Print.
Tagg, Kevin. " 'And, We Burned down the White House, Too ': American History, Canadian. 2011, 12-54. Print.
Thompson, John Herd, and Stephen J. Randall. Canada and the United States: Ambivalent Allies, The Standard Scholarly Survey. Print.