No. Dime novels were not a uniquely American phenomena. All of the western world had them, or their equivalents; England had their penny dreadfuls and "hal'penny dreadfullers," and France had their pulps, and Germany had a dime novel market that thrived until the Nazis closed them down.

The most influence American dime novels had, globally, was inspiring foreign markets to steal characters. Nick Carter began in America, but quickly had rip-offs (all still using the name Nick Carter) spout up in England, in France, and in Germany (among other nations). Similarly, Sherlock Holmes was poached by all other dime novel markets. Germany threw him against Jack the Ripper, American and English markets killed him off Holmes' assistant or girlfriend or wife could solve the crime and (hopefully start their own series), and the very first Greek detective novel was a Sherlock Holmes dime novel (see the introduction to Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper for more information on that).

But dime novels had no effect on how America was seen. That wouldn't really come about until the westerns of 50 years later.