ABSTRACT
This chapter sheds light on the cultural dynamics of imperialism based on the notions of cultural imperialism and the media-industrial complex. With these notions in hand, it will be much easier to transcend reductionist or one-sided explanations and demonstrate the extent to which cultural practices are indissociable from monopoly capitalism and military imperialism, and vice versa. Therefore, my main argument is that US imperialism as the hegemonic power of the contemporary imperialist system has weaponized culture itself, not merely to justify military interventions, but also to advance its broader cultural leadership through systematic attempts at colonizing the hearts and minds of the peoples of the world. In what follows, I will introduce conceptual issues pertaining to the study of the cultural dynamics of imperialism. This will be followed by two empirical sections: one that focuses on the intertwined character of cultural imperialism and monopoly capital, and one that exposes the symbiotic relationship between cultural and military imperialism.
