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Of highways, turntables and mirror mazes: Metaphors of Americanisation in the history of American philanthropy

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 20:24 authored by Katharina RietzlerKatharina Rietzler
This exploratory essay reflects on recent scholarship on twentieth-century European–American relations that has used the concept of “Americanisation,” particularly with regard to cultural transfers. The essay analyses how concepts of Americanisation have changed over time and uses the historiography of American philanthropy abroad to illustrate these changes. Whilst most scholars who apply the concept now view Americanisation as a two-way process which entails selective adaptation and transformation, there are subtle differences in emphasis. The essay traces these in the use of metaphors. Two metaphors have achieved prominence recently, the highway and the turntable. Testing both against empirical material taken from the transnational history of American foundations, the article then introduces a third metaphor, the mirror maze, which brings out a neglected dimension, the question of reflexivity.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Diplomacy and Statecraft

ISSN

0959-2296

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Issue

1

Volume

24

Page range

117-133

Department affiliated with

  • History Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-03-23

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