Final answer:
The promotion of one culture over others through various means, referred to as cultural imperialism, is often driven by global powers and corporations that impose their norms and values on other societies. This can lead to a digital divide and corporate colonialism, perpetuating cultural dominance and overshadowing local customs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for the promotion of one culture over others, through either formal policies or informal means such as the spread of technology and material culture, is known as cultural imperialism. This concept is often manifested in the actions of global powers or corporations that push their cultural norms and values onto other societies. Examples of this can include the introduction of foreign agricultural methods by international aid agencies, or the spread of American brands and values through global commerce. Distinct from mere cultural diffusion, which is a more natural and reciprocal process of sharing cultures, cultural imperialism implies a power dynamic where one culture is imposed over others, often leading to a dominance of certain cultural elements like language and consumer goods that overshadow indigenous practices and ideals. As a consequence, this can contribute to the digital divide, where there is an uneven access to technology along racial, class, and geographic lines, further exacerbating cultural disparities. Moreover, corporate colonialism is a modern force driving cultural imperialism, spreading not just goods and services, but also the underlying values, often at the expense of local customs and economies. In the broader scope of globalization, the influence of a state's cultural identity becomes prominent as iconic goods carrying specific cultural values traverse the globe, influencing politics, economies, and social systems.