Not yet the post‐imperialist era

The early formulation in the late 1960s of the cultural domination thesis occurred in a specific historical era. Although that period is over, this by no means indicates that cultural domination no longer exists. The difference today is that national (largely American) media‐cultural power has been largely (though not fully) subordinated to transnational corporate authority. A total cultural package—film, TV, music, sports, theme parks, shopping malls, etc.—is delivered worldwide by a small number of multi‐billion‐dollar media combines. To the extent that communication research ignores or glosses these developments, it loses its explanatory power.