President Bush, who is generally considered an incompetent in foreign affairs, managed to get past the negativity and address the grander, relatively more important issues of cooperation between the participating countries. However, he made no clear statement about the role of the United States in the FTAA, leaving the most vocal opinions to the protesters. Those protesting the FTAA did so to highlight its potential effects on the U.S. economy and the rest of the continent. Additionally, the cultural implications the U.S. economy imposes on other countries in the FTAA remain clear. McDonald s, Coca-Cola and Adidas are found worldwide.
Culture follows economy, and the strongest culture is usually found in the larger economic centers.
The benefits of the FTAA are numerous and powerful, but also threaten to destroy existing cultures in order that it might prosper. President Bush acknowledges many of the great challenges of the FTAA, but believes they can be overcome with the dedication of its participants. The strongest dedication, however, should come from those with the most power. The United States, by acting to ensure that the FTAA cooperates rather than subjugates, could unify the hemisphere into a common economic region and thus reap far greater benefits than imperialism ever yielded, proving that economic power need not also dictate cultural dominance.