Abstract
The dominance of First-World countries extends beyond economic, political, and social spheres, affecting even more subtle micro-cultural influences, such as food. This dominance creates an intrinsic cycle that smaller, less influential countries cannot escape, preventing them from establishing themselves as global destinations and cultural forces. The reach of their culture and food remains limited to a small audience. What factors can we investigate to understand why this is the case, and perhaps suggest a future of cultural openness and development for these nations? Looking to the past to inform potential future changes, this paper explores the process of neo-colonialism that emerged directly after smaller nations declared independence from their colonizers. This provides insight into how colonial legacies have led smaller countries to depend on larger, more established nations, thus limiting their development. Not only is history examined, but attention is also given to present-day efforts by smaller nations to break free from these cultural constraints in their attempts to make a mark in the gastronomic world (e.g., Jamaica, Thailand). This paper draws on research articles, interviews, personal connections, experiences, observations, and book publications to trace the colonial and neo-colonial influences on food culture in smaller nations, while proposing solutions for how these countries can distinguish themselves globally.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Fed Up: Learning From the Past, Imagining New Futures
KEYWORDS
Third-World Countries, Exposure, Cultural Exposure, Jamaica, Thailand, Global Influence, Colonialism
