With the current state of foreign affairs, the terms Americanism and Americanization sometimes take on an unexpected - and an unflattering - connotation. Americanism essentially involves local settings outside the United States that are in some way related or attributed to American influence. While the validity of this influence may be under scrutiny, it requires a detailed historical - and sometimes cultural - analysis to understand all the dynamics and implications of Americanization. A variety of factors contributes to this influence, including the preoccupation and reception of the relevant culture itself. For instance, many European countries have at times demonstrated a preoccupation with all things American - a preoccupation which was not necessarily swayed by any action of America itself.