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Masking and Veiling Protests

Culture and Ideology in Representing Globalization

Iowa State University, Ames muril{at}iastate.edu

This article argues that certain representations of protests ideologically aid the hegemonic project of globalization. Using Merquior's distinction between ideology as mask and veil, it considers, first, the question of how consent to globalization's power is produced even within non-benefiting groups, and next, the related question of how and why some intellectuals produce ideological representations. It answers the first question by discussing the typical frameworks that represent protests against globalization as irrational, immoral, unnecessary, or non-existent, thus masking power and sectional interests. It answers the second through an examination of John Tomlinson's argument against `cultural imperialism' and claims for `cultural loss' as the real meaning of protests, and argues that the concept of `culture' operates in his arguments in a peculiar way to veil protests. Finally, this article makes a claim for the continued relevance of the term `cultural imperialism' to account for particular protests against globalization.

Key Words: globalization • hegemony • ideology • protests • Tomlinson

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