"Internationalists are just imperialists in disguise". Discuss.

It is quite clear that many if not most 'internationalists', such as NGOs and multinational corporations, don't really like non-Western cultures and languages, or even for that matter those of Western countries that are non-English speaking. Rather, they ultimately believe that everyone in the world should speak English and adopt an Anglo-American individualistic culture.

In my case, for example, I don't especially like Islam and its associated cultures, nor does the Arabic language overly interest me. Nevertheless, I do believe that they have the right to exist, and that we mustn't force people to substitute Arabic with English (this is already effectively happening in places like Dubai and Qatar), nor that Islamic cultures and mores within their own countries should be supplanted by (pseudo) Western ones.

Would say globalists

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Originally Posted by TheMaestro

Would say globalists

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Isn't the distinction between 'globalists' and 'internationalists' really just a question of semantics? In any case, what I mean is those who claim to care for the welfare of all humanity really want to impose their ways on it.

What is western culture? Junk food, TV series, English royals? Believe me, money talks everywhere.

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Originally Posted by Lemminkäinen

What is western culture? Junk food, TV series, English royals? Believe me, money talks everywhere.

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There is the tacky and consumerist aspect, yes. But there is also the 'human rights' element, which is far from being accepted universally. For example, it is evident that Western-style liberal democracy is NOT the best system necessarily for all cultures, societies and epochs. Moreover, when it comes to certain issues like the death penalty, I don't believe that a country should be automatically blacklisted for retaining it, as Amnesty International does. While I personally oppose the death penalty because (a) it is a very dangerous power for the State to have and (b) what happens when the executed convict subsequently turns out to be innocent?, nevertheless I respect the right of sovereign nations to retain it, if they so wish.

I support a global lingua franca, yes, but at the same time I would be against a world where everyone speak English and adopt Anglo-American values.
What I really dislike is the arrogance of some Anglophones, people that go to non-Anglo countries and expect everyone to be fluent in English, while not even bothering to learn basic phrases of the host country's language.

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Originally Posted by Latinus

I support a global lingua franca, yes, but at the same time I would be against a world where everyone speak English and adopt Anglo-American values.
What I really dislike is the arrogance of some Anglophones, people that go to non-Anglo countries and expect everyone to be fluent in English, while not even bothering to learn basic phrases of the host country's language.

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True.