It is often argued that globalization fosters 'hybridity', as some cultural imports are accepted, while others are 'localized', and others still are rejected outright. Yet we know relatively little about the social processes and mechanisms involved in cultural globalization. This book offers an empirically rich and theoretically compelling analysis of how cultural globalization occurs, including the structural conditions, personal meanings and social interactions associated with various outcomes. Providing a detailed analysis of young people from Kazakhstan who live in the US temporarily, the author asks how return migrants react to cultural differences in America, and what changes they try to incorporate into their lives back in Kazakhstan. What kinds of negotiations ensue, and what explains their success or failure? In answering these questions, Douglas Blum combines insights from sociology and anthropology along with specialized research on globalization, migration, and post-Soviet studies.