Americentrism

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Americentrism is the tendency among some Americans to assume the culture of the United States is more important than those of other countries or to judge foreign cultures based on the standards within their own. It refers to the practice of viewing the world from an overly US-focused perspective, with an implied belief, either consciously or subconsciously, in the preeminence of American culture.[1]

The term is not to be confused with American exceptionalism, which is the assertion that the United States is qualitatively different from other nations and is often accompanied by the notion that the United States has superiority over every other nation.[2]

In the media

American television networks have been perceived to contain an Americentric bias in the selection of their material.[3] Some American celebrities[who?] have been accused of having Americentric views.[citation needed]

Another instance of Americentrism is in the high focus companies have on US markets in relation to others. Often, products produced and developed outside the US are still marketed as typically American.[4]

According to the European Commission, internet governance (in particular that related to the NSA) is too Americentric. It criticized the major role of American company ICANN in its administration.[5]

Wikipedia has been criticized for having an Americentric systemic bias with regards to its occasional preference towards US English sources, language, and spelling.[6]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ NI, Chun-yan (2008). "Analysis of ethnocentrism" (PDF). US-China Foreign Language. p. 78. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ American Exceptionalism: A Double-Edged Sword. Seymour Martin Lipset. New York, N.Y.: W.W. Norton & Co., Inc. 1996. p. 18.
  3. ^ Kaufman, King (August 20, 2004). "King Kaufman's Sports Daily". Salon. Salon Media Group. Archived from the original on February 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Maden, Sead (12 December 2012). "American-Centric UI Is Leveling Tech Culture – and Design Diversity". Wired.
  5. ^ Traynor, Ian (12 February 2014). "Internet governance too US-centric, says European commission". The Guardian. Brussels.
  6. ^ Browne, Marcus (12 February 2008). "Wikipedia accused of 'US-centric bias'". ZDnet.