After gaining economic dominance following the events of World War II, the United States and its allies in Europe began to expand their influence. Commonly referred to as "the West," these nations impacted people around the world through music, propaganda, and relief efforts. The United States, as a free superpower, has a moral obligation to promote democracy around the world (Evinger and Montanez-Muhinda). This can easily be observed in the stories of two children, Mariatu Kamara and Ishmael Beah, whose lives are changed by a brutal civil war. Although it plays an important role in both tales, the effects of the Western world are much more prevalent and impactful in A Long Way Gone than in The Bite of the Mango. In fact, unlike Mariatu, Ishmael is heavily influenced by Western culture before the war begins. to affect it directly. One of the first things readers learn about him is that he loves rap, a genre created by the West. He and his friends learn dance moves like runner, wear baggy clothes, and memorize English lyrics. Eventually, they even start using English expressions such as “peace out”. This type of influence is not found in The Bite of the Mango. Mariatu is much less exposed to the Western world than Ishmaël. This is evident through her lack of English skills which appears when she tries to communicate with her sponsors. However, there are several similarities between their lives that can be attributed to Western influence. For example, both discovered snow while watching American Christmas films. They are both exposed to English, likely due to its role in the global economy. Furthermore, the poor state of Sierra Leone is the result of the Western slave trade and imperialism. Freetown was in the middle of paper for Ishmael's survival. This has a huge influence on him from the beginning of the story, and even saves his life on several occasions. Although both eventually land book deals and tours, Ishmael has a much stronger interest in the West. This helps him change his life and makes him the person he is today. Works Cited Beah, Ishmael. A Long Road Traveled: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. Print. Evinger, B. and Rosalind Montanez-Muhinda. “Point: The United States has an interest in promoting global democracy.” Viewpoints: American and World Democracy (2013): 2. Viewpoints Reference Center. Internet. November 13, 2013. Kamara, Mariatu and Susan McClelland. The bite of the mango. Toronto: Annick, 2008. “Sierra Leone” print. Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th edition (2013): 1-3. Premier Academic Research. Internet. November 11 2013.