The Culture Wars Go Global: An International Relationship Issue Analysis While America is busy in terms of political and economic development, other countries are trying to copy its model in both aspects. The American model of political processes and economic strength become the continuous basis of other countries in the world. It includes the status of culture wars which is evident in the United States. Therefore, we can say that culture wars go global and that there is no way preventing it to happen.
Micklethwait wrote an article entitled “The Culture Wars Go Global” in the Economist. The said international relationship issue stirred the whole world as other countries are hooked into American politics in particular. The said American model of politics includes the rise of what has been referred to as “values voter” (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1). In connection with that, Micklethwait mentioned that religious conservatives have helped cultures wars to be incorporated in American politics at present (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1).
Actually, the said relationship issue somehow brought religion into the realm of political and economic development. For example, Micklethwait opined that the easiest way to determine whether a white American is a Democrat or a Republican has not been to question him how much money he owned but how often he goes to church (Micklethwait, 2008, p 1). If we will take a closer view, we need to remember that George Bush won the 2004 presidential elections because of the overwhelming support of white evangelicals (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1).
Meaning, religion has become an indispensable indicator on the political affiliation or electoral participation of an American. Micklethwait pointed out that we could expect to hear more talk of God in politics worldwide. Meaning, the incorporation of religion into political activities will also exist outside America. Micklethwait even explained that culture wars that dominated American political processes are gradually going global at present time (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1). Partly, it happened because politics in other countries is emulating American model.
It was Micklethwait (2008) who wrote that: With most of the big economic debates settled as evidenced by the minimal difference between Conservative and Labor spending plans in Britain, politics is more focused on cultural issues in the society such as the importance of the family. (1) As a result, it gives fresh and new role to the West’s traditional cultural warrior that is the Catholic Church, including also to younger evangelical outfits, some of them copied in American political model (Micklethwait, 2008, p.
1) In fact, the ultimate focus on the family, which is the heart of America’s religious right, already exists in other countries. Micklethwait said that the number of countries that focused on family in relation to religious right reached 54 in all (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1). Another thing, religious belief is also growing even outside the United States, particularly outside Western Europe. Besides, Micklethwait confided that most of the faiths doing well are of the hotter sort (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1).
Most of all, Micklethwait said that religion is becoming a matter of choice (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1). It is no longer considered as a matter of inheritance. Seriously speaking, Micklethwait reported that once you choose to be a born-again Christian, a fundamentalist Muslim or a committed Hindu, you are more likely to make a fuss about religion in public life (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1). The reason behind this is obviously the culture war that already existed in the society. There are other explanations pertaining to culture war that goes global.
According to Micklethwait, the participation of India’s people to the polls in the year 2008 affects its possible deal with the United States as it may be overshadowed by the fury about a bridge that the god Ram and a group of monkeys built to Sri Lanka (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1). With that, the secular Congress party has discussed about blowing a hole in the bridge which it argues is a natural bridge and actually underwater, to make a place for shipping (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1). Aside from that, there will be a clash over the constitution in Turkey (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1). Such clash caused the political activities of the country.
Besides, the Islamist AK party demands to get rid of the ban on headscarves at schools and universities (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1). Not only in Turkey had that culture war happened, but also in South Korea. Micklethwait reported that mega churches have formed a New Right Movement partly to ask a tougher approach to North Korea (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1). Finally, other familiar issues involved in culture war include abortion and gay marriage. Micklethwait also mentioned three new issues like the issues on United Nations which has been a long target for American conservatives because of its unfair and ungodly practices (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1).
The second new issue is about cloning which unites anti-abortion activists with the larger and wider group of believers who shared that science is now playing with the unknown (Micklethwait, 2008, p. 1). The last and the biggest are environment issues that totally call for a continuous protection of God’s dominion. Therefore, we can say that culture wars go global.
References
Micklethwait, J. 2008. The Culture Wars Go Global. The Economist. Retrieved May 29, 2008 <http://www. economist. com/theworldin/leaders/displayStory. cfm? story_id= 10125778&d=2008>