Microsoft :: The Implementation of America's "Manifest Destiny" in the new modern era

PRASETYANINGSIH, Anita, Prof.Dr. Djuhertati Imam Muhni, MA

2006 | Tesis | S2 Pengkajian Amerika

Tesis ini sebenarnya mencoba untuk melihat adanya hubungan antara kesuksesan Microsoft dan pengaruh ideologi “Manifest Destiny” yang melatarbelakangi kesuksesan Microsoft. Tentu saja melalui pendekatan yang interdisipliner, salah satu kunci untuk melihat keterkaitan ini adalah dengan mempelajari sepakterjang Microsoft dalam dunia teknologi dan bisnis yang bisa diambil sebagai aspekaspek yang mencerminkan suatu bentuk implementasi ideologi “Manifest Destiny.” “Manifest Destiny” adalah sebuah ideologi kultural bangsa Amerika, dan ideologi ini menyimpan hasrat, impian and ambisi bangsa Amerika. Bisa dikatakan bahwa aspek-aspek yang membangun konsep “Manifest Destiny” terdiri atas: frontier, ekspansi, sains and teknologi, kemajuan atau keberhasilan and kekuasaan atau kekuatan. Hal-hal ini dapat dilihat dan dipelajari melalui bagaimana Bill Gates membangun Microsoft menjadi sebuah kerajaan teknologi. Hal ini menarik karena Microsoft merupakan perusahaan teknologi raksasa di dunia yang dibangun oleh orang Amerika yang tentunya membawa nilai-nilai “Manifest Destiny” Amerika, mengingat ideologi ini telah menjadi kultur bangsa Amerika yang membedakan bangsa ini terutama dengan bangsa barat lainnya

This thesis is challenged to successfully figure out the implementation of American ideology—“Manifest Destiny”—in modern era by using interdisciplinary approach. Using Microsoft as for figuring out the implementation of “Manifest Destiny” is actually meant to expose the connection between Microsoft’s success and the role of “Manifest Destiny” as the driving aspect. There are several things that can be formulated from the idea of “Manifest Destiny,” namely: frontier, expansion, science and technology, progress and power. To the eye of American, these things are certain kinds of privilege that nurtured in American culture. This privilege gives them a pride and self-esteem for a high prestige of America that they believe they are predestined and chosen to work up a mission that is to lead the future. In the modern era, the era we are now or the new modern era, Microsoft can be taken as a great example to explore how America’s “Manifest Destiny” has taken part to determine the success of Microsoft as an American enterprise and Bill Gates, the founder, as an American individual. Microsoft is an American “masterpiece” in technology. It is a revolutionary technology characterized by opportunity, conquest, flexibility, and democracy. We can see the implementation of America’s “Manifest Destiny” in the way it seizes both technological and business opportunities by using the term “frontier” as its standard. Its Windows is hugely profitable because it is dominating the software market. Windows software is a form of technological and business expansions. With Windows, Microsoft gains a global power. A belief that America has the birthright to subdue the continent and the lead the world, is also embedded in the Microsoft society that Microsoft has the birthright to lead the software pack. It is something that derived from the idea of the “chosen” of “Manifest Destiny.” However, “Manifest Destiny” is not merely about attempting to gain expansion, progress, success and power, but what can be learnt and understood in the sense of “Manifest Destiny” is that when we are success we help others to get betterment.

Kata Kunci : Ideologi Kultural Amerika Serikat, Microsoft,Bill Gates, Manifest Destiny,” Microsoft, Bill Gates, the American dream.