Gorbachev: Don't Americanize Cultures

[ChrisD(RJ)]

Gorbachev: Don't Americanize Cultures
June 1, 2002

LONDON (AP) - Former Soviet leader Mikhael Gorbachev would like to help
build 
a new world order, but warned against attempts to Americanize cultures
across 
the world.
 
Addressing more than 1,000 business leaders in Harrogate, northern England, 
Gorbachev also said Friday that world leaders were struggling to keep up
with 
rapid change.
 
``Unfortunately,'' he said, ``we wasted a lot of time after the end of the 
Cold War. Today, we have to build a new world order step by step.''
 
Gorbachev, who was president of the Soviet Union from 1985 until it
collapsed 
in 1991, also said anti-globalization sentiment stems from a desire to 
preserve unique identities and cultures.
 
``Some people would like to Westernize every country just like the
communists 
tried to make the whole world (communist),'' he said. ``Some other people 
want to Americanize the world. But we have seen how people have responded in

many countries of the world.''
 
He said Great Britain has resisted some changes to its system.
 
``(Great Britain) is the toughest nut to crack in the European Union. I can 
see for example that you are still using the pound,'' he said, referring to 
the country's decision not to use the single European currency.