McDonald's move to Carrousel du Louvre one example of cultural homogenization

By Alejandra Ortega

Created:
10/14/09 8:08pm

Last updated:
10/14/09 8:08pm

2 comments

How a country famous for their culinary expertise can allow an American-based fast food restaurant take over may be surprising, but it’s sadly true.

McDonald’s announced earlier this week they are planning to open a restaurant inside the famous Carrousel du Louvre of Paris. The idea of French art and culture mixed with American fast-food seems a bit appalling. Yet, as shown in the company’s data, France is their top market outside the U.S. In, fact the location on the famous Champs-Elysees Avenue is the most profitable in the world. This begs the questions as to the affects of U.S.-driven globalization and the homogenization of cultures.

Certainly it is unavoidable for countries to be involved in each other’s lives. The Obama administration recently has been involving itself more in the current crisis in Guinea: On Sept. 28, thousands of citizens went to the Stade du 28 Septembre — the stadium named after Sept. 28, 1958, when Guineans declared independence — gathered in protest of Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara’s ruling. Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara took over last December through a bloody coup. The military went into the stadium and fired into the crowd, resulting in as many as 157 people’s deaths. Many women were raped by the soldiers as well. As Hillary Clinton said, “It was criminality of the greatest degree.” Although the U.S.’ involvement has not had much impact since their influence is rather limited in that area of Africa, the effort is not without merit.

With all this in mind, what can be defined as positive influence and what is negative?

To put all the blame on the McDonald’s Corp. would be wrong. There are other fast food chains or stores, such as Starbucks and Wal-Mart, that have branched out into other countries. These countries do welcome these corporations as evidenced by their permitting these businesses in their country. The question is, should capitalistic corporations be immersing themselves into other countries at risk of influencing their culture? We could argue the same thing with the military. Should capitalistic governments immerse themselves in the affairs of other countries?
It probably is not the best idea for American businesses to set up shop in foreign countries at the expense of the country’s culture. When they do so they run the risk of homogenization of cultures. The blending may result in a loss of what makes each culture uniquely different. If we lose the things that make the culture special we begin to lose the culture. The same problems can occur when different countries begin to immerse themselves into another country’s affairs.

Although in the example of Guinea, the U.S. has not had much impact, there still is the risk that the longer they stay the more they begin to influence the country. The blood should stop spilling with the new aide, but there are risks that if involved Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara could become angry and start fighting a new battle in which the people are caught between.

The questions of moral obligations, whether it is to protect human lives and democracy such as in Guinea or to preserve and help the economy as in with the corporations, is difficult to answer. There are always risks of the interferences causing conflicts.

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Nick Ten Brink

(10/14/09 9:07pm)
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I ate at the McD’s on Champs-Elysees a few years ago. It was packed! it was also pretty pricey compared to what I was used to in the states. I asked for the cheapest hamburger “avec tomate” but they refused to put anything extra on it…

I wasn’t lovin’ it.

Chris

(10/15/09 12:43pm)
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I’m confused…is this an article about McDonald’s being the Louvre or about the problems in Guinea?

About One World

Copy editor Alejandra Ortega writes about multicultural issues, the culture of other countries and interviews international students in her blog, One World.

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