In recent years Westerners have reassured themselves and irritated others by expounding the notion that the culture of the West is and ought to be the culture of the world. This conceit takes two forms. One is the Coca-colonization thesis. Its proponents claim that Western, and more specifically American, popular culture is enveloping the world: American food, clothing, pop music, movies, and consumer goods are more and more enthusiastically embraced by people on every continent. The other has to do with modernization. It claims not only that the West has led the world to modern society, but that as people in other civilizations modernize they also westernize, abandoning their traditional values, institutions, and customs and adopting those that prevail in the West.

Notes:

(1) irritate 

[动词 + 名词短语]
a. to annoy sb, especially by sth you continuously do or by sth that continuously happens 使烦恼（尤指不断重复的事情）

The way she puts on that accent really irritates me.
她故意操那种口音的样子实在令我恼火。
b. to make your skin or a part of your body sore or painful 刺激（皮肤或身体部位）

Some drugs can irritate the lining of the stomach.
有些药物会刺激胃内壁。

 (2) expound

~ sth (to sb) | ~ on sth (formal) to explain sth by talking about it in detail 详解；详述；阐述
a. [动词 + 名词短语]
He expounded his views on the subject to me at great length.
他详细地向我阐述了他在这个问题上的观点。
b. [单独使用的动词]
We listened as she expounded on the government's new policies.
我们听她详细讲解了政府的新政策。   

(3) envelope 

 n.  信封，封皮; 壳层，外壳; 包裹物; [生物学]膜，包袋;  

a. Return the enclosed Donation Form today in the prepaid envelope provided. 
请于今日将随函附上的捐款表格用所提供的邮资预付的信封寄回。
b. The envelope has been tampered with and then taped shut again. 
信封被人动过手脚，然后又用胶带封上了。
c. Liz picked up the blue envelope and turned it over curiously. 
莉兹拿起蓝色信封，好奇地翻过来看。   

(4) abandon 

vt. 放弃，抛弃; 离弃，丢弃; 使屈从; 停止进行，终止;

a. The officers and crew prepared to abandon ship in an orderly fashion. 
全体船员秩序井然地准备弃船。
b. The market might abandon the stock, and knock down its price. 
市场可能会抛售该股票，从而令其股价下跌。
c. Their decision to abandon the trip was made because of financial constraints. 
他们决定放弃这次出游是因为财力有限。

(5) prevail in 盛行于

a. The Data Processing analysis is likely to prevail in the long run. 
从长远角度看,"数据加工"案的分析很可能起主导作用.
b. Peace will prevail in life and relationships, instead of fear. 
平和而不是恐惧会在生活和人际关系中取胜.
c. A number of curious customs still prevail in this place. 
此地尚有一些奇异的风俗流行. 

参考译文：

最近几年，西方人士详述了这样的观点：西方文化代表世界文化，也应该成为世界文化。他们安慰了自己却激怒了别人。这种自负有两种表现形式：一种是可口可乐导致殖民化的论调。其支持者声称，是西方文化，更具体地说，是美国文化包围着全世界：美国食品、服装、通俗音乐、电影和消费品越来越受到各洲人民的热烈欢迎。另一种与现代化有关。它不仅宣称西方导致世界进入现代化社会，而且还宣称其他文明中的人实现现代化的同时，也实现了西方化，摒弃了传统的价值观、制度及风俗习惯，采纳了盛行于西方的价值观、制度及风俗习惯。