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Why Do People Hate America #1
لماذا يكره العالم أمريكا؟
"American corporations and popular culture affect the lives and infect the indigenous cultures of millions around the world. The foreign policy of the U.S. government, backed by its military strength, has unprecedented global influence now that the USA is the world's only superpower - its first 'hyperpower.'" "America also exports its value systems, defining what it means to be civilised, rational, developed and democratic - indeed, what it is to be human. Meanwhile, the U.S. itself is impervious to outside influence, and if most Americans think of the rest of the world at all, it is in terms of deeply ingrained cultural stereotypes." Many people do hate America, in the Middle East and the developing countries as well as in Europe. Ziauddin Sardar and Merryl Wyn Davies consider this hatred in the context of America's own perception of itself, and provide an important contribution to a debate which needs to be addressed by people of all nations, cultures, religions and political persuasions.
First published January 1, 2002
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About the author
Ziauddin Sardar
199 books153 followersZiauddin Sardar has written or edited 45 books over a period of 30 years, many with his long-time co-author Merryl Wyn Davies. Recent titles include Balti Britain: a Journey Through the British Asian Experience (Granta, 2008); and How Do You Know: Reading Ziauddin Sardar on Islam, Science and Cultural Relations (Pluto, 2006). The first volume of his memoirs is Desperately Seeking Paradise: Journeys of a Sceptical Muslim (Granta, 2006). His recent television work includes a 90-minute documentary for the BBC in 2006 called 'Battle for Islam'. Sardar's online work includes a year-long blog on the Qur'an published in 2008 by The Guardian newspaper.
Sardar is a Visiting Professor of Postcolonial Studies in the Department of Arts Policy and Management at City University London and is Editor of the forecasting and planning journal, Futures. He is also a member of the UK Commission on Equality and Human Rights. His journalism appears most often in The Guardian and The Observer, as well as the UK weekly magazine, New Statesman. In the 1980s, he was among the founders of Inquiry, a magazine of ideas and policy focusing on Muslim countries. His early career includes working as a science correspondent for Nature and New Scientist magazines and as a reporter for London Weekend Television.
>>(from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziauddin... )<<
--
*You can know more from his own site:
http://www.ziauddinsardar.com/Biograp...
Sardar is a Visiting Professor of Postcolonial Studies in the Department of Arts Policy and Management at City University London and is Editor of the forecasting and planning journal, Futures. He is also a member of the UK Commission on Equality and Human Rights. His journalism appears most often in The Guardian and The Observer, as well as the UK weekly magazine, New Statesman. In the 1980s, he was among the founders of Inquiry, a magazine of ideas and policy focusing on Muslim countries. His early career includes working as a science correspondent for Nature and New Scientist magazines and as a reporter for London Weekend Television.
>>(from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziauddin... )<<
--
*You can know more from his own site:
http://www.ziauddinsardar.com/Biograp...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
December 24, 2018
In a country that loves permanent war and to distrust all Muslims, we hope the outside world doesn’t realize the obvious: that Africa wasn’t colonized by Arabs, the Ottoman’s, or China; it was colonized by us pasty faced white people. “Thought without information does not advance understanding. It is the quality and accuracy of information, coupled with original thought, that produces understanding.” Branding anything as evil has a major drawback; it leads to the tendency to oppose something without an attempt to understand it. Seeking causes now is seen as un-patriotic, yet not seeking causes leaves future generations “fear as a legacy”. America’s moral blind spot: “We advanced across the continent in the name of freedom, yet in doing so we pushed Native Americans off their land.” William Blum in Rogue State lists “150 incidences between 1984 and 1987 when the U.S. cast a solitary ‘no’ vote against General Assembly resolutions.” ‘The Free Market’ means keeping developing nations from developing “their own products and exports”, and barring them from US markets. The U.S. gets a woody giving other countries sanctions – “during the past 80 years, such sanctions have been imposed on various countries on 120 occasions, 104 of them since World War II. In 1998 alone, the US had sanctions against 75 countries, accounting for 52% of the world’s population.” As for the most generous nation, of the 22 most developed nations, the US is ranked the least generous. Hooray, we are #1. We are the “biggest developer and exporter of GMO’s” now and all we had to do for that was reject the Precautionary Principle.
Does any American ever ponder why we have World Championships all the time that involve only one country? Get ready for the World Series! Really? What other countries are participating? As one professor of political science states, “The exclusion of the rest of the world from the American sight is one of the most disturbing facts about American society.” “Diverse and dissenting voices have been filtered out to create a bland media monoculture dedicated to promoting consumerism, business, and the interests of government and the power elite, and to keeping the masses entertained and docile.” The job of our media is to keep us ignorant about the rest of the world. It wants happy consumers, not people questioning where does it all come from and how? Only with Capitalism could Michael Jackson’s Invisible CD incur a whopping $30 million in expenses! A single CD? Where did that money go? Worth the price of the book alone is the ten-page section in the middle, listing all the US military interventions of the past 100 years (so much for the myth of the US always meaning well). This book reminds us of the Highway of Death where we killed 150,000 surrendered Iraqi soldiers who were no threat to anyone – because that is what a sadistic culture does after hundreds of years of honing its violence - Richard Slotkin anyone? A joke among linguists is, “a language is a dialect with an army behind it”. We believe we are forever doing what is right, meanwhile “in 1986, the U.S. was condemned by the World Court for ‘unlawful use of force’ (international terrorism) and then it vetoes a Security Council resolution calling on all states (meaning the US) to adhere to international law.” The Age of Discovery was actually a code word for the first Cold War, between Christendom and Islam which still continues thanks to US media, PR, and Bill Maher.
The US was in fact the first colony to turn on itself by denying by force its original inhabitants. The freedom colonists enjoyed was “directly related to the freedom they denied to the original inhabitants.” Yet note, there is a total denial that the world could teach the US anything about “freedom, justice, and other virtues”. Today’s trigger-happy American ‘Cletus’ is obsessed with the myopic notion that “justice eventually comes down to the willingness to spill blood.” Vandenburg said to Truman, then you’d better scare the hell out of the American people, and Truman did. Nothing sells like fear in a country where too many have the IQ of a toaster oven. As a country, we “eulogize violence” rather than “contemplate its human cost”, and refuse to “empathize with the human experience of the consequences of violence.” Throughout history, we kill the “other” by first labelling them the “savage” racial enemy. Other obvious reasons to hate America? Our support for Israel, our hundred years of support for military dictatorships everywhere, our interventions and our double standards. We keep other countries from being able “to exist as full and free entities, to live as they would wish to live. Nothing seems to move without America’s consent; nothing can be solved without America’s involvement.” America alone “defines what is democracy, justice, freedom: who is a ‘terrorist’ or simply ‘evil’.” Other countries have to adopt US economic policies, even when it violates their human rights. America sees the rest of the world as it did those pesky Red Indians – as obstacles to be brought to heel with a six-shooter. America keeps its myths dead simple to keep its occupants afraid of that big outside world, where they hate us for our freedoms and they are always burning stuff in pictures. “Hatred always simplifies.” America is acting to the world the way England once haughtily acted to its colonists, and now the rest of the world is pulling away, wanting their independence from Britain’s bastard son. Meanwhile, America’s silent majority actively “hand the mantle of action to extremists.” Brilliant – amazing book – great mind – great courageous thinking on a critical subject few wonderful American souls are willing to read about, and fewer have the balls to write about.
Does any American ever ponder why we have World Championships all the time that involve only one country? Get ready for the World Series! Really? What other countries are participating? As one professor of political science states, “The exclusion of the rest of the world from the American sight is one of the most disturbing facts about American society.” “Diverse and dissenting voices have been filtered out to create a bland media monoculture dedicated to promoting consumerism, business, and the interests of government and the power elite, and to keeping the masses entertained and docile.” The job of our media is to keep us ignorant about the rest of the world. It wants happy consumers, not people questioning where does it all come from and how? Only with Capitalism could Michael Jackson’s Invisible CD incur a whopping $30 million in expenses! A single CD? Where did that money go? Worth the price of the book alone is the ten-page section in the middle, listing all the US military interventions of the past 100 years (so much for the myth of the US always meaning well). This book reminds us of the Highway of Death where we killed 150,000 surrendered Iraqi soldiers who were no threat to anyone – because that is what a sadistic culture does after hundreds of years of honing its violence - Richard Slotkin anyone? A joke among linguists is, “a language is a dialect with an army behind it”. We believe we are forever doing what is right, meanwhile “in 1986, the U.S. was condemned by the World Court for ‘unlawful use of force’ (international terrorism) and then it vetoes a Security Council resolution calling on all states (meaning the US) to adhere to international law.” The Age of Discovery was actually a code word for the first Cold War, between Christendom and Islam which still continues thanks to US media, PR, and Bill Maher.
The US was in fact the first colony to turn on itself by denying by force its original inhabitants. The freedom colonists enjoyed was “directly related to the freedom they denied to the original inhabitants.” Yet note, there is a total denial that the world could teach the US anything about “freedom, justice, and other virtues”. Today’s trigger-happy American ‘Cletus’ is obsessed with the myopic notion that “justice eventually comes down to the willingness to spill blood.” Vandenburg said to Truman, then you’d better scare the hell out of the American people, and Truman did. Nothing sells like fear in a country where too many have the IQ of a toaster oven. As a country, we “eulogize violence” rather than “contemplate its human cost”, and refuse to “empathize with the human experience of the consequences of violence.” Throughout history, we kill the “other” by first labelling them the “savage” racial enemy. Other obvious reasons to hate America? Our support for Israel, our hundred years of support for military dictatorships everywhere, our interventions and our double standards. We keep other countries from being able “to exist as full and free entities, to live as they would wish to live. Nothing seems to move without America’s consent; nothing can be solved without America’s involvement.” America alone “defines what is democracy, justice, freedom: who is a ‘terrorist’ or simply ‘evil’.” Other countries have to adopt US economic policies, even when it violates their human rights. America sees the rest of the world as it did those pesky Red Indians – as obstacles to be brought to heel with a six-shooter. America keeps its myths dead simple to keep its occupants afraid of that big outside world, where they hate us for our freedoms and they are always burning stuff in pictures. “Hatred always simplifies.” America is acting to the world the way England once haughtily acted to its colonists, and now the rest of the world is pulling away, wanting their independence from Britain’s bastard son. Meanwhile, America’s silent majority actively “hand the mantle of action to extremists.” Brilliant – amazing book – great mind – great courageous thinking on a critical subject few wonderful American souls are willing to read about, and fewer have the balls to write about.
April 21, 2025
Why Do People Hate America? was first published in the UK in 2002. I found this book in late March, 2025. It was timely and poignant reading this during the Trump tariff tactics as they were announced and increased day after day. I finished reading on Mon. 21, April, '25.
I couldn't disagree with anything in the book. I have the advantage, being Australian, of viewing it objectively. I can imagine what a Canadian would think of this book after Trump's suggestion of Canada becoming an American state.
I learnt a few new pieces of history. Surprised to find, 'the league of the Iroquois inspired Benjamin Franklin to copy it in planning the federation of States.' Another thing, the essence, still, of the British Constitution is that it is unwritten, (Either was the Iroquois') - that is the mystique and its great advantage. If the Constitution is a product of its time, then it is also a product of the experience of those who debated and framed it.
The book gives a clear understanding of the reach and dominance of American global cultural and economic hyper-imperialism. While reading, one of President Trumps tariff announcements said, "The world has been taking advantage of The United States for far too long." Hearing that was a real coffee spray.
I couldn't disagree with anything in the book. I have the advantage, being Australian, of viewing it objectively. I can imagine what a Canadian would think of this book after Trump's suggestion of Canada becoming an American state.
I learnt a few new pieces of history. Surprised to find, 'the league of the Iroquois inspired Benjamin Franklin to copy it in planning the federation of States.' Another thing, the essence, still, of the British Constitution is that it is unwritten, (Either was the Iroquois') - that is the mystique and its great advantage. If the Constitution is a product of its time, then it is also a product of the experience of those who debated and framed it.
The book gives a clear understanding of the reach and dominance of American global cultural and economic hyper-imperialism. While reading, one of President Trumps tariff announcements said, "The world has been taking advantage of The United States for far too long." Hearing that was a real coffee spray.
October 26, 2007
Well, in some chapters the authors choose very bizarre aspects of American TV culture to focus on, and their style isn't especially inviting - in fact it's rather horrible - and in every way I would have preferred someone else to write this necessary book. But they didn't. Anyway, Americans should take a peek at this just to get a little flavour of the way a whole swathe of the world's population thinks about their great - and frightening - country.
July 6, 2017
This is about why people hate American - and it isn't because they hate America's freedoms, the authors claims. There is plenty of good content in here, which is rarely voiced by so-called intellectuals, in the media or academia; Noam Chomsky offers praise on the cover. A critical observation is how Americans and Westerners like to see themselves as moral and civilised, incapable of doing any wrong, despite their extensive history, while viewing others as savages. Contributing factors to the dislike of America include, the authors cites, their wars and interventions in foreign culture, their ignorance about the world, and their dominance of culture which harms the cultures of countries around the world.
I think the authors overestimates the hate America gets, which isn't really that much. The first author has a background in media studies, which shows up too extensively in the book. Much of it is also seen from the lens of one particular group; a hint of SJWism runs throughout.
I think the authors overestimates the hate America gets, which isn't really that much. The first author has a background in media studies, which shows up too extensively in the book. Much of it is also seen from the lens of one particular group; a hint of SJWism runs throughout.
January 2, 2016
لماذا يكره العالم أمريكا ؟
عنوان شدني مرة بوقعه ومرات بوجوده ضمن رفوف مكتبة سوق المنوعات بمطار جدة، التهمت عيناي 40 صفحة قبيل وأثناء التحليق عائداً إلى الرياض مساء غرة فبراير 2014، ما بقي من صفحاته الأربعمائة تناولته في وجبتي قراءة أو ثلاث على مدى الأسابيع التالية.
كتاب قديم نسبياً أن يقرأ بعد 13 سنة من صدوره الأصلي بالإنجليزية وثماني سنوات من ترجمته إلى العربية رغم الصدى الكبير الذي أحدثه إبان الجدل حول عنوانه الذي انتشر في الإعلام العالمي كانتشار صور سبتمبر النيويوركية لورود ذات العبارة على لسان إحدى المصابات الناجيات من ركام الحادث الكبير.
كتاب يتناول بعين فاحصة وذهن مدقق وقلم جرئ كل جوانب المسألة بصورة متأنية وعرض إحصائي عريض المنظر طويل الأثر عميق النظر في كل عناصر السؤال
الكره والكراهية ،
العالم والناس والشعوب ،
أمريكا من وجهة نظرها ووجهة نظر العالم لها.
يسرد 8 مراوغات أمريكية واضحة جلية لإبقاء العالم فقيراً من أجل رفاهية المستهلك الأميركي فقط.
يتتبع 180 تدخلاً عسكرياً أميريكيا في أنحاء العالم لتحقيق بعض مصالحها.
يوضح التأسيس العلمي المعوج للنظرة التاريخية المغلوطة للحضارة الإسلامية في نظر الغرب.
أبان كيف تسرق أميركا الدنيا بأسرها تحت جنح الشعارات القانونية القديمة والمحدثة.
وأكد ما يقوله البعض من أن المؤسسات الدولية تستخدم لتنفيذ مخططات أمريكا بالدرجة الأولى.
على مدى سبعة فصول بعد التمهيد والمقدمة يدرك القارئ لماذا يكره العالم أمريكا.
كتاب رائع جدير بالقراءة والنظر فيما يطرح من أفكار ونظرات.
المؤلفان بريطانيان أحدهما هندي الأصل مسلم الديانة.
Posted by Loay Elshamy at 1:03 م
عنوان شدني مرة بوقعه ومرات بوجوده ضمن رفوف مكتبة سوق المنوعات بمطار جدة، التهمت عيناي 40 صفحة قبيل وأثناء التحليق عائداً إلى الرياض مساء غرة فبراير 2014، ما بقي من صفحاته الأربعمائة تناولته في وجبتي قراءة أو ثلاث على مدى الأسابيع التالية.
كتاب قديم نسبياً أن يقرأ بعد 13 سنة من صدوره الأصلي بالإنجليزية وثماني سنوات من ترجمته إلى العربية رغم الصدى الكبير الذي أحدثه إبان الجدل حول عنوانه الذي انتشر في الإعلام العالمي كانتشار صور سبتمبر النيويوركية لورود ذات العبارة على لسان إحدى المصابات الناجيات من ركام الحادث الكبير.
كتاب يتناول بعين فاحصة وذهن مدقق وقلم جرئ كل جوانب المسألة بصورة متأنية وعرض إحصائي عريض المنظر طويل الأثر عميق النظر في كل عناصر السؤال
الكره والكراهية ،
العالم والناس والشعوب ،
أمريكا من وجهة نظرها ووجهة نظر العالم لها.
يسرد 8 مراوغات أمريكية واضحة جلية لإبقاء العالم فقيراً من أجل رفاهية المستهلك الأميركي فقط.
يتتبع 180 تدخلاً عسكرياً أميريكيا في أنحاء العالم لتحقيق بعض مصالحها.
يوضح التأسيس العلمي المعوج للنظرة التاريخية المغلوطة للحضارة الإسلامية في نظر الغرب.
أبان كيف تسرق أميركا الدنيا بأسرها تحت جنح الشعارات القانونية القديمة والمحدثة.
وأكد ما يقوله البعض من أن المؤسسات الدولية تستخدم لتنفيذ مخططات أمريكا بالدرجة الأولى.
على مدى سبعة فصول بعد التمهيد والمقدمة يدرك القارئ لماذا يكره العالم أمريكا.
كتاب رائع جدير بالقراءة والنظر فيما يطرح من أفكار ونظرات.
المؤلفان بريطانيان أحدهما هندي الأصل مسلم الديانة.
Posted by Loay Elshamy at 1:03 م
April 9, 2012
I found this book quite frustrating. It has this awful gimmick of introducing its points through TV shows and movies. It didn’t really get into anything of substance until chapter 3. After you get passed the synopsis of Alias and how it related to Amercias view of the world, you finally get some meat. Our military intervention is outlined, our manipulative economic sanctions are brought to light, our tactics for keeping poor countries poor are exposed.
But the author also likes to throw in questionable stats, like “one in ten Amercians works for a fast food outlet”. Googling tells me the actual stat is that one in ten Americans works for a restaurant- which makes a lot more sense. While reading this you definitely have to pick out what’s exaggerated or embellished.
Really, I just felt it was badly written. I struggled to get through it, I dreaded picking it up. I wholeheartedly agree with Paul Bryant’s review: I REALLY wish someone else had written this important book.
But the author also likes to throw in questionable stats, like “one in ten Amercians works for a fast food outlet”. Googling tells me the actual stat is that one in ten Americans works for a restaurant- which makes a lot more sense. While reading this you definitely have to pick out what’s exaggerated or embellished.
Really, I just felt it was badly written. I struggled to get through it, I dreaded picking it up. I wholeheartedly agree with Paul Bryant’s review: I REALLY wish someone else had written this important book.
October 21, 2008
Very insightful book on our culture of dominance militarily, economically, scientifically, and globally. American corporations have the backing of our military and their global influence around the world effects every culture on earth. We have created much riches around the world as well as severe poverty which brings much despair and frustration. Our interests come first whether it's with a country with a democratic election or a dictator and we sometimes decide who will protect out interests and put that person in power. The two parties in America don't really differ much from one another when it comes to our capitalism. We have used our military in the past century mainly for economic reasons by both Democrats and Republicans.
December 28, 2012
Five stars for knowledge shared.
All through the read was...
really? Really? And really??
True controversial yet self revelation about the world on the influential media.
All through the read was...
really? Really? And really??
True controversial yet self revelation about the world on the influential media.
April 4, 2025
Essential reading.
March 18, 2017
Apparently TV shows and fast-food cheeseburgers are unacceptable to the authors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2023
The United States-led globalization has shrunk cultural space all around the globe, The US itself is unfamiliar with cultural reciprocity and has only one focus ''The United States''. While proclaiming to be the land of the free, the land of free-markets, free-speech protection and openness to other cultures, this book gives solid arguments to undermine all of the America's self-proclaimed biases.
Total political control over the WTO, influence in the World Bank, Pressure and allied partners from NATO, foreign interventions and the rising use of soft power in media, commercial activities and post-modern culture is described as McDonalisation. A process in which, even in the slums of an Iraqi village, American culture, music, t-shirts and commercial stores found their way, slowly undermining the unique character of any country. A process which build the foundation for American resentment all around the world.
Do you want to understand the American view of life better and, at the same time, learn why Arab, Asian or European countries have a difficult love-hate relationship between each other? Then this book is a good start.
Total political control over the WTO, influence in the World Bank, Pressure and allied partners from NATO, foreign interventions and the rising use of soft power in media, commercial activities and post-modern culture is described as McDonalisation. A process in which, even in the slums of an Iraqi village, American culture, music, t-shirts and commercial stores found their way, slowly undermining the unique character of any country. A process which build the foundation for American resentment all around the world.
Do you want to understand the American view of life better and, at the same time, learn why Arab, Asian or European countries have a difficult love-hate relationship between each other? Then this book is a good start.
March 30, 2024
A CRITIQUE OF AMERICAN POLICIES AND INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD
Authors Ziauddin Sardar and Merryl Wyn Davies wrote in the Introduction to this 2002 book, “We focus on the question---‘Why do people hate America?’---as a question, not as a statement… [We] take it as an honest, earnest and impassioned demand that recognizes a communication gap… This is not a book about 9-11; nor is it about the action stemming from it. It is a book prompted by that awful event and concerned to understand the overriding question that emerged from the devastation… the question … requires an examination of problems that existed before that criminal act… the events of 9-11 have not prompted diligent inquiry and serious debate, but a resort to the very agenda that constructs the problem of relations between America and the rest of the world in the first place…
“This is also not a book about the positive sides of the United States: those looking for a straightforward counterblast to the hatred expressed for America should stop reading now. It is a book about the consequences of interaction in a world in which gross disparities of power, wealth, freedom and opportunity must be factored into each and every situation… One of the main points we make in this book is that many of the worst effects of American power are the result of the best-intentioned actions. As a result, the animosity in other parts of the world often seems unaccountable to the US… we argue that a more careful and imaginative approach to US foreign policy is essential if worldwide anti-American feeling is not to spiral out of control. By setting out clearly what makes people hate America, we hope to show what those new policies need to address…”(Pg. 6-7)
“[W]e explore the rationale for the grievances of the rest of the world against America… we examine the way in which the brand called ‘America’ has been sold to the rest of the world, and the consequences of the globalization of American culture on the developing countries… the power of the American media… works to keep the American people closed to experience and ideas from the rest of the world and thereby increases the insularity, self-absorption and ignorance that is the overriding problem the rest of the world has with America.” (Pg. 9, 11)
They assert, “[the question] “‘Why are Islamic extremists trying to kill us?’… has one prime function, to explore what differentiates Us from Them… What defines America is what terrorists are against… the difference between Us and Them is simply ‘freedom and democracy.’” (Pg. 19)
They explain, “The question, ‘Why do people hate America?’ has three basic components: ‘people,’ hatred, America. Who are these people?... The ‘people’ are defined by the quality assigned to them: hatred… Hatred defines boundaries between peoples, creates the … animosity that makes it possible to commit heinous crimes… What is the America that is hated, and how is it related to the America that is loved… that’s why we have to interrogate the question rather than be bamboozled into ready-packaged, easy answers.” (Pg. 39-40) They add, “America’s question … is mirrored among … the crowd from among whom come the terrorists. From the perspective of the young Egyptian waiter and many Muslims, it is America who hates Muslims; and their own hatred of America emerges from this perception.” (Pg. 48-49)
They outline, “The US accumulates the wealth of the world through eight types of manipulations... 1. The US has been financing domestic growth through the savings of the rest of the world… 2. The US denies democratic control over their own economies destinies to over two-thirds of the world’s population… 3. The US interprets ‘trade liberalization to mean one-way, open access for American multinationals and businesses… 4. The US promotes a type of ‘economic freedom’ that actually destroys the economic freedom of poor people… 5. The US systematically undermines the efforts of the least developed countries to combat poverty and feed their populations… 6. The US defrauds the least developed countries, thus increasing their poverty… 7. The US has consistently worked to bring down commodity prices in the developing world… 8… the US imposes unilateral coercive economic measures… known as ‘sanctions,’ with regularity.” (Pg. 72-79)
They argue, “Almost every concern of the world, from the risks and safety of GMOs to climate change and biodiversity, from the protection of indigenous knowledge and resources to the reform of undemocratic and authoritarian global institutions like the WTO and IMF, to global justice and fair trade, is reduced by the US to a question of ‘free trade’—meaning America should be free to do as it desires.” (Pg. 85-86)
They point out, “The US declares that elections should be free and fair, and prohibits other countries from intervening in its own elections, giving donations to American political parties and influencing the outcome of elections in any way. Yet, it routinely intervenes in the elections of other countries---sometimes covertly through the CIA, at other times through non-governmental organizations and the media.” (Pg. 109-110)
They state, “The ‘virus’ of American culture and lifestyle replicates so readily because it is founded on a promise of abundance, the lure of affluence. Material well-being is… irresistible to those who have … sufficient means to buy into the dream. It is the upwardly mobile, those busily working to distance themselves from poverty, who find the prospect of ever-expanding material horizons truly intoxicating… given the fact that so many people aspire to their lifestyle, it is not surprise that Americans feel that their way is the best and the only way.” (Pg. 117-118)
They note, “from the perspective and with the historical experience of the rest of the world, the orthodox American narrative reads very differently. Instead of confirming America as the last best hope of mankind, it reveals America as the prime mover and chief beneficiary of the processes that create and sustain a world of haves and have nots… [of] rulers and ruled.” (Pg. 139)
They contend, “If recourse to violence is an original and necessary part of the rhetoric of America, then it is hardly surprising to find violence reified to a form of communication… It is this American propensity to eulogize violence and not to contemplate its human cost, not to empathize with the human experience of the consequences of violence, that strikes fear and enmity into the hearts of people the world over.” (Pg. 186)
They assert, “America defines what is democracy, justice, freedom; what are human rights and what is multiculturalism… In short, what it means to be human. The rest of the world, including Europe, must simply accept these definitions… There is no scope for these values to be interpreted and practiced in different ways; no sense that … other cultures may have generated their own notions of freedom and justice.” (Pg. 201)
They conclude, “America has as much to do to make its own democracy work, to make peace with itself, to mature its own self-identity, as it has to do in coming to terms with the rest of the world.” (Pg. 211)
A controversial book, this book will interest those seeking critiques of American policies and influence in the world.
Authors Ziauddin Sardar and Merryl Wyn Davies wrote in the Introduction to this 2002 book, “We focus on the question---‘Why do people hate America?’---as a question, not as a statement… [We] take it as an honest, earnest and impassioned demand that recognizes a communication gap… This is not a book about 9-11; nor is it about the action stemming from it. It is a book prompted by that awful event and concerned to understand the overriding question that emerged from the devastation… the question … requires an examination of problems that existed before that criminal act… the events of 9-11 have not prompted diligent inquiry and serious debate, but a resort to the very agenda that constructs the problem of relations between America and the rest of the world in the first place…
“This is also not a book about the positive sides of the United States: those looking for a straightforward counterblast to the hatred expressed for America should stop reading now. It is a book about the consequences of interaction in a world in which gross disparities of power, wealth, freedom and opportunity must be factored into each and every situation… One of the main points we make in this book is that many of the worst effects of American power are the result of the best-intentioned actions. As a result, the animosity in other parts of the world often seems unaccountable to the US… we argue that a more careful and imaginative approach to US foreign policy is essential if worldwide anti-American feeling is not to spiral out of control. By setting out clearly what makes people hate America, we hope to show what those new policies need to address…”(Pg. 6-7)
“[W]e explore the rationale for the grievances of the rest of the world against America… we examine the way in which the brand called ‘America’ has been sold to the rest of the world, and the consequences of the globalization of American culture on the developing countries… the power of the American media… works to keep the American people closed to experience and ideas from the rest of the world and thereby increases the insularity, self-absorption and ignorance that is the overriding problem the rest of the world has with America.” (Pg. 9, 11)
They assert, “[the question] “‘Why are Islamic extremists trying to kill us?’… has one prime function, to explore what differentiates Us from Them… What defines America is what terrorists are against… the difference between Us and Them is simply ‘freedom and democracy.’” (Pg. 19)
They explain, “The question, ‘Why do people hate America?’ has three basic components: ‘people,’ hatred, America. Who are these people?... The ‘people’ are defined by the quality assigned to them: hatred… Hatred defines boundaries between peoples, creates the … animosity that makes it possible to commit heinous crimes… What is the America that is hated, and how is it related to the America that is loved… that’s why we have to interrogate the question rather than be bamboozled into ready-packaged, easy answers.” (Pg. 39-40) They add, “America’s question … is mirrored among … the crowd from among whom come the terrorists. From the perspective of the young Egyptian waiter and many Muslims, it is America who hates Muslims; and their own hatred of America emerges from this perception.” (Pg. 48-49)
They outline, “The US accumulates the wealth of the world through eight types of manipulations... 1. The US has been financing domestic growth through the savings of the rest of the world… 2. The US denies democratic control over their own economies destinies to over two-thirds of the world’s population… 3. The US interprets ‘trade liberalization to mean one-way, open access for American multinationals and businesses… 4. The US promotes a type of ‘economic freedom’ that actually destroys the economic freedom of poor people… 5. The US systematically undermines the efforts of the least developed countries to combat poverty and feed their populations… 6. The US defrauds the least developed countries, thus increasing their poverty… 7. The US has consistently worked to bring down commodity prices in the developing world… 8… the US imposes unilateral coercive economic measures… known as ‘sanctions,’ with regularity.” (Pg. 72-79)
They argue, “Almost every concern of the world, from the risks and safety of GMOs to climate change and biodiversity, from the protection of indigenous knowledge and resources to the reform of undemocratic and authoritarian global institutions like the WTO and IMF, to global justice and fair trade, is reduced by the US to a question of ‘free trade’—meaning America should be free to do as it desires.” (Pg. 85-86)
They point out, “The US declares that elections should be free and fair, and prohibits other countries from intervening in its own elections, giving donations to American political parties and influencing the outcome of elections in any way. Yet, it routinely intervenes in the elections of other countries---sometimes covertly through the CIA, at other times through non-governmental organizations and the media.” (Pg. 109-110)
They state, “The ‘virus’ of American culture and lifestyle replicates so readily because it is founded on a promise of abundance, the lure of affluence. Material well-being is… irresistible to those who have … sufficient means to buy into the dream. It is the upwardly mobile, those busily working to distance themselves from poverty, who find the prospect of ever-expanding material horizons truly intoxicating… given the fact that so many people aspire to their lifestyle, it is not surprise that Americans feel that their way is the best and the only way.” (Pg. 117-118)
They note, “from the perspective and with the historical experience of the rest of the world, the orthodox American narrative reads very differently. Instead of confirming America as the last best hope of mankind, it reveals America as the prime mover and chief beneficiary of the processes that create and sustain a world of haves and have nots… [of] rulers and ruled.” (Pg. 139)
They contend, “If recourse to violence is an original and necessary part of the rhetoric of America, then it is hardly surprising to find violence reified to a form of communication… It is this American propensity to eulogize violence and not to contemplate its human cost, not to empathize with the human experience of the consequences of violence, that strikes fear and enmity into the hearts of people the world over.” (Pg. 186)
They assert, “America defines what is democracy, justice, freedom; what are human rights and what is multiculturalism… In short, what it means to be human. The rest of the world, including Europe, must simply accept these definitions… There is no scope for these values to be interpreted and practiced in different ways; no sense that … other cultures may have generated their own notions of freedom and justice.” (Pg. 201)
They conclude, “America has as much to do to make its own democracy work, to make peace with itself, to mature its own self-identity, as it has to do in coming to terms with the rest of the world.” (Pg. 211)
A controversial book, this book will interest those seeking critiques of American policies and influence in the world.
November 20, 2014
The authors purpose for writing this book is to show Americans why people might hate them. The book was written so Americans might see these reasons and make people not "hate" them. I thought that the information was old and I did not agree with some of it.
The theme of the book is why people hate America. The author is trying to say that not everyone thinks the same as Americans and sometimes Americans mess up what the rest of the world wants. The rest of the world also might hate america because they think America singles out certain people.
The book was written as an argument. It is an argument because it explains the topic of why people hate America but it only provides information about one side of the argument. The information of the why people hate America side was persuading.
I thought the book was not the best. I liked that it gave good reasons to why people hate America. I did not like that it did not give very many examples of the people but more of the government. I would change the book by making it more about the people and give another side of the argument.
The theme of the book is why people hate America. The author is trying to say that not everyone thinks the same as Americans and sometimes Americans mess up what the rest of the world wants. The rest of the world also might hate america because they think America singles out certain people.
The book was written as an argument. It is an argument because it explains the topic of why people hate America but it only provides information about one side of the argument. The information of the why people hate America side was persuading.
I thought the book was not the best. I liked that it gave good reasons to why people hate America. I did not like that it did not give very many examples of the people but more of the government. I would change the book by making it more about the people and give another side of the argument.
January 2, 2020
I would love to know what the reception to this was when it first came out (2002, less than a year after 9/11). Now in 2020, it's nothing I didn't already know in general terms, or that anyone remotely likely to pick this book up wouldn't have at least some sense of (I hope), but still pretty shocking when laid out all together with so many examples and frankly breathtaking statistics (I know many of the numbers will be outdated by now, but plenty of historical data will still be valid and the overall situation definitely hasn't changed).
I admit that the phrasing was a little oblique and hyperbolic in places, and that in large part the substance is concentrated into the two central chapters that deal with the almost inconceivable hypocrisy and hyper-imperialism of US foreign policy, and the way the government has behaved on the world stage, but to criticise the book for its writing style, and its approach of analysing through a lens of pop culture, is reductive and missing the point, I think.
I admit that the phrasing was a little oblique and hyperbolic in places, and that in large part the substance is concentrated into the two central chapters that deal with the almost inconceivable hypocrisy and hyper-imperialism of US foreign policy, and the way the government has behaved on the world stage, but to criticise the book for its writing style, and its approach of analysing through a lens of pop culture, is reductive and missing the point, I think.
October 28, 2013
I expected more from this.
I was sold on the idea of a book dissecting why 'America' (read: the USA) has earned the acrimony and animosity of many people around the world.
I thought it would be an incisive analytical diagnosis of American foreign policy and other such political pebbles dropped in the proverbial pond, seeing how the ripples affected the way America was viewed.
What I got was a wishy-washy book meandering through ramshackle avoidances of causing any possible offence to anyone, trying to define the animosity aimed at the USA not through analysis of the political ramifications but how "America" is manifested through the television programmes they produce.
Pretty much the equivalent of getting a political diagnosis of how the Arab world views the USA by watching Homeland, The Hurt Locker and Argo.
Disappointing. This could have been so much more engaging.
I was sold on the idea of a book dissecting why 'America' (read: the USA) has earned the acrimony and animosity of many people around the world.
I thought it would be an incisive analytical diagnosis of American foreign policy and other such political pebbles dropped in the proverbial pond, seeing how the ripples affected the way America was viewed.
What I got was a wishy-washy book meandering through ramshackle avoidances of causing any possible offence to anyone, trying to define the animosity aimed at the USA not through analysis of the political ramifications but how "America" is manifested through the television programmes they produce.
Pretty much the equivalent of getting a political diagnosis of how the Arab world views the USA by watching Homeland, The Hurt Locker and Argo.
Disappointing. This could have been so much more engaging.
October 20, 2014
not a bad little text. discussions of mass culture dissemination is not as important, I think, as military invasions and debt leverage imperialism, which are also considered.
great bit, from the 17th century colonial period, wherein some New England puritans had a little town hall meeting regarding native americans and resolved as follows:
The land is God's to dispose of how He will: voted.
God wills that the land be given to His chosen people: voted.
We are His chosen people: voted.
that basically sums up US policy and democratic imperialism in a nutshell.
great bit, from the 17th century colonial period, wherein some New England puritans had a little town hall meeting regarding native americans and resolved as follows:
The land is God's to dispose of how He will: voted.
God wills that the land be given to His chosen people: voted.
We are His chosen people: voted.
that basically sums up US policy and democratic imperialism in a nutshell.
January 6, 2014
The publishers say this isn't another 911 narrative but its difficult to argue the pretext for this book other than the threat of Islamic terrorism on the US. Style of book is more essay formatted but not academic in the slightest to put you off. You do learn lots from this but would definitely recommend reading this with Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilizations. The general point I think this book offers is that the world doesn't hate America or Americans or culture, just the hawk like foreign policy
January 23, 2016
I found this book to contain vast amounts of useful material. As a person who is delving into the complexity of Americas influence and relationship with the world, I was able to easily grasp the key concepts and formulate new understanding on the issue - a point often missing in more complex books. I would definitely recommend this to people who are starting their journey in current affairs in regard how dominant politics has been shaped by this super power, or in the books words "hyper". A must read in my opinion.
August 31, 2018
Interesting and I largely agree, as far as it goes. Certainly, little I could disagree with, but I felt it needed to look more at the state of America than the projection of America to the rest of the world. But maybe that is a different book. And it did seem to get caught up in its own eddies. However, it did change my mind on a couple of things and there were a couple of revelations which were enjoyable. Well worth a read for anyone interested in the USA's relationship with the rest of the world.
March 9, 2010
اعجبني كثيراً .. تكلّم بموضوعية وتوضيح كبير للحركات السياسية التي تقوم بها أمريكا مع العالم خاصة مع الشرق الأوسط وأثرها السلبي على الشعوب والحضارات.. يغيّر كثيرًا من فكرة الامريكيين بأن العالم أشرار يكرهون أمريكا ! دون أن يعوا ما معنى أمريكا في الاجزاء الأخرى من العالم !
March 21, 2014
قرأت ترجمة عربية لهذا الكتاب بعنوان لماذا يكره العالم أمريكا
لكن لم استمتع بقرائته و أرى أنه ممل بعض الشيئ .
لكن لم استمتع بقرائته و أرى أنه ممل بعض الشيئ .
July 17, 2017
Outdated but the principles hold true
September 18, 2019
El historiador Ziauddin Sardar y la antropóloga Merryl Wyn Davies dedicaron un broli entero contestar la pregunta de por qué la gente odia a Estados Unidos. En el ensayo se encuentran algunas partes verdaderamente obvias, pero otras en las que desarrollan cuestiones interesantes.
El libro ya tiene algunos añitos (es de 2002) pero no ha perdido la vigencia, sino que, por el contrario, parece haberla recobrado hoy más que nunca.
No es largo, se lee muy rápido y es interesante.
Decía antes que es obvio en algunos momentos ya que si uno piensa en un Estado basado en la violencia autoritaria y que impone de forma arbitraria sus valores al resto del mundo, que tiene una marcada obsesión por perseguir su propio interés por encima del resto, que decide en qué consiste ser civilizado, racional, desarrollado y democrático, y muchos y diversos etcéteras, la respuesta es inmediata.
A mí la parte que me resultó más interesante es la que trata sobre la percepción que tienen los propios estadounidenses sobre ellos mismos, la grandísima ingenuidad que poseen acerca de la política internacional de su propio país y su historia. De cómo Estados Unidos ha forjado una imagen impoluta de sí mismo, y de cómo la ha impuesto no sólo dentro sino también más allá de sus fronteras.
También es interesante el análisis acerca de los medios masivos y el cine de Hollywood y sus influencias en la percepción que los estadounidenses tienen de ellos mismos.
El libro ya tiene algunos añitos (es de 2002) pero no ha perdido la vigencia, sino que, por el contrario, parece haberla recobrado hoy más que nunca.
No es largo, se lee muy rápido y es interesante.
Decía antes que es obvio en algunos momentos ya que si uno piensa en un Estado basado en la violencia autoritaria y que impone de forma arbitraria sus valores al resto del mundo, que tiene una marcada obsesión por perseguir su propio interés por encima del resto, que decide en qué consiste ser civilizado, racional, desarrollado y democrático, y muchos y diversos etcéteras, la respuesta es inmediata.
A mí la parte que me resultó más interesante es la que trata sobre la percepción que tienen los propios estadounidenses sobre ellos mismos, la grandísima ingenuidad que poseen acerca de la política internacional de su propio país y su historia. De cómo Estados Unidos ha forjado una imagen impoluta de sí mismo, y de cómo la ha impuesto no sólo dentro sino también más allá de sus fronteras.
También es interesante el análisis acerca de los medios masivos y el cine de Hollywood y sus influencias en la percepción que los estadounidenses tienen de ellos mismos.
March 17, 2019
I really love this book! The name sounds provocative but this book provides such thorough, critical and logical research and examples of why USA gets hatred from other countries. It looks at the problem from different perspective from arts, history, politics to entertainment and economy. Some parts of the books are a little bit hard to comprehend because of the academic language that I think the author overused. Sections of the books sometimes are not logically segmented so it makes the flow a bit difficult to follow as well. Other than that it's a great book that I would totally recommend reading !!
June 15, 2020
Written in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the book provides important perspective on the Americanization of cultures throughout the world through fast food, music, movies, television, as well as the pernicious effects of our military might, whose interventions and ubiquity have caused resentment and fear. The U.S. has overturned elections and regimes in many countries. Our government has befriended many gross violators of human rights. Our efforts in exporting democracy are selective and often duplicitous. I concur with other critics about the in-depth analyses of TV shows such as West Wing and Alias. That kind of media analysis would have been a good subject for another book.
January 18, 2022
There are a couple of stats and examples in here that are either wrong or lazy in use so that bothered me. However the cultural examples bugged me worse - choosing only a few, often less than major, ones like Alias or The Siege and then constantly referring to them as significant cultural touch points. Maybe because I left it so long to finish reading as I brought it on a trip through The US in 2002 but it could be it is dated. The references to La Haine, a movie I watched when it was released and since, really got me. Including the misrepresentation of the final speech on falling been equivalent to “how they come to hate”. Isn’t this book trying to say those reasons are important?
September 24, 2022
The thing is, USA can be critizised for so much, as well as many things mentioned in this book - but this book is not only about explaining why people hate USA it goes long way into the territory of "Why you should hate USA" and in its wake, it makes many exaggerations, false claims, and total misunderstanding of basic principles. It has some redeeming qualities - it flows well, and teaches you some issues where the hate toward USA is justified, but most of all, it does give us insight into how the haters of America think - and this, I'm afraid, seem to include the authors.
February 20, 2021
I feel like I have begun to see the US in a whole new light after reading this book. This is a useful book to understand many of the sentiments towards America, the left-wing's opinions on American foreign policy, and lots more.
August 21, 2025
I read this book after finishing Defying Hitler by Sebastian Haffner. A shocking experience to draw parallels between the books and one that really should be required reading. Some laziness in stats.
September 5, 2018
Certainly thought provoking, worth a read
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