importance of culture

1. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
SGTM 5 B
Attitudes & Behaviour
“Cultural Awareness”

2. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Structure of Presentation
What is Culture?
Understanding Cultural differences
Dealing with Cultural differences
Case studies

3. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Culture
A shared system of
meanings,
beliefs,
values
behaviours
through which experience is
interpreted and carried out

4. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Culture Is ..
Relative
Learned
Collective
Changes over time
Complex responsive process

5. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Forces Shaping Individual
Culture
Personal
Culture
Values
World-views
Beliefs
Behaviours
Urbanization
Migration
Minority
Experience
Cross-
cultural
Adjustments
Profession
Gender Language
Education
Industrialization
Social
background
Ethnic
background
Religion
Nationalism Colonisation

6. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Dangers!
Stereotypes
Prejudice
Ethno-centric perspectives

7. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Culture – In Peace Operations
Civilians –
Civilians
(International)
International
actors Local
communities
CULTURE
Military – Military
(International)
Military – Civilians
(Organizational)
Local
Communities

8. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Understanding Cultural
differences
Eating habits
Asia - chop sticks
Europe - knife and fork
Clean right hand in some
countries
Common plate

9. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Understanding Cultural
differences
Eating habits
Beef
Pork
Horse
“Everything that moves”

10. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Understanding Cultural
differences
Eating habits
Pork not eaten by Muslims for
religious reasons
Christians keep horses, dogs
and cats as pets
Fish is neutral

11. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Understanding Cultural
differences
Religion
Religion – an important place in
many societies
Knowledge of religion of host
nation very important
Respect religious beliefs

12. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Understanding Cultural
differences
Family and Gender
Elders are highly respected in
some cultures
Understand family ties
Different gender beliefs and
views

13. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Understanding Cultural
differences
Communication
Language is culture specific
Avoid use of idiomatic
expressions
Humour

14. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Understanding Cultural
differences
Body Language
Gesture/body language have
different meanings
Smile will never be misunderstood
Polite handshake is accepted in most
cultures

15. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Understanding Cultural
differences
Dress Code
Depends on culture, customs,
traditions and climate
Adapt to local customs

16. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Understanding Cultural
differences
Traffic
Peacekeeper die in traffic
accidents
Different traffic conditions
Respect local traffic laws
Adapt to local conditions

17. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Understanding Cultural
differences
Time
People have different concept of
time
Need to understand
“You have the clock, we have the
time”

18. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Building Cultural Awareness
Understand your own culture
Understand and accept logic of
other cultural frameworks
Cultural differences as unique
and creative problem-solving
opportunity

19. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Host Country’s Culture
Knowledge of history, culture,
customs and traditions
Background for the conflict
Expectations from “Blue Berets”

20. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Cultural Shock
Unfamiliar:
–Language
–Climate
–Currency
–Road signs
–Colleagues
Adaptation process

21. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
The Adaptation Stages
Honeymoon
Initial confrontation
Adjustment crisis
Recovery

22. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
The Adaptation Stages
STAGE SITUATION APPROACH REACTION
Honeymoon
First exciting
contact with
new culture
Observe
Excitement;
Curiosity;
Slight
concern
Initial
confrontation
First intensive
feeling with
new culture
Solve
problems in
familiar ways
Confusion;
Mystified
about;
Others
behaviour

23. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
The Adaptation Stages
STAGE SITUATION APPROACH REACTION
Adjustment
crisis
Problems
intensify
Experimentation
with new
behaviours
Frustration;
Anger;
Confusion
about
Recovery
Sense of
belonging to
culture
emerges
New
strategies to
help one
function
effectively
New culture is
understandable;
Enjoying many
aspect of it

24. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Maintaining Good Relations
Between military and civilian
With other military contingents
Team work

25. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Cultural Awareness
“If you are
Humble
Respectful
Friendly
you will always be fine”

26. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Case Studies
The market place
The toilet experience
To walk hand in hand
Movement control at the airport
The gift

27. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Summary
Cultural awareness is increased by
giving you the most common
examples
 This is the first step to handle
cultural differences positively, avoid
conflicts due to misperception and to
make you interact positively with
host cultures

28. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Summary
Closely related to “Code of
Conduct”, where you get written
rules.
In culture you may find few written
rules, but make sure, you know and
obey them

29. SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
Questions ?