Dealing with people from different cultures is a major challenge. As our world shrinks, we are all involved in more cross cultural exchanges. This paper presents some research on culture and its power in our affairs, to make it more available. It is focused on all of us who are working in other cultures to bring about fundamental change. My own involvement is with a Sister Parish relationship in Nicaragua. I also have friends living in Tanzania, Cambodia, and Latin America who face this issue every day. It also arises in cross cultural exchanges within our country.
The Power of Culture
Culture is more than a collection of norms and rules of behavior. It is deeper than that. It is how we think, it is our “world view”, how we approach everything that we think and do. It is enduring, and difficult to change. A culture is formed through centuries of experience, and it is conveyed from generation to generation in every word, every act. Our children have a firm grasp of it before the age of 7 or 8, and it is their guide for life. One cannot simply choose to ignore one’s culture – it is virtually automatic, not really under conscious control.
Culture is more than a collection of norms and rules of behavior. It is deeper than that. It is how we think, it is our “world view”, how we approach everything that we think and do. It is enduring, and difficult to change. A culture is formed through centuries of experience, and it is conveyed from generation to generation in every word, every act. Our children have a firm grasp of it before the age of 7 or 8, and it is their guide for life. One cannot simply choose to ignore one’s culture – it is virtually automatic, not really under conscious control.
Culture Examples from Africa
In 2000 my son Tom and I traveled to Tanzania. He was in his last year of residency, and the hospital wanted him to experience a different environment prior to his graduation I have an old friend in Tanzania who runs a flying medical service, and who does things with a hospital in Arusha, Tanzania. My son thought this would be a very different experience of medicine. It was very different. We spent a month visiting hospitals, and sitting and talking with missionaries, and meeting Africans.
The key thing I came away with is: these people are different! Yes, their skin is different, but the way they think about the world is also different. Americans, people who grew up in the US tend to think that humans are in charge of the world. If there’s a problem, we fix it. The Africans we met do not work that way. They are definitely not in charge of their world. In their world, things just happen. A couple of simple examples will help illustrate this.
AIDS – they all have education on AIDS – how it is transmitted, and its terrible consequences. In Arusha, we would drive by a small group of people under a tree, with a teacher demonstrating how condoms work, and why they are important. But, armed with this knowledge, they do virtually NOTHING to avoid getting AIDS. If it happens, it happens, is how they seem to treat it. At that time, in 2000, about 40% of the people who presented themselves to the Lutheran hospital in Arusha had AIDS. Their culture seems to say that things just happen – there is nothing you can do or should do about it.
Water Works. On a more pedestrian scale, we were out in the bush near Endulen, on the edge of the Serengeti, in a town of about 300 people. The sole water supply came via pipe from a hospital about a mile away. The Austrians built the hospital in the 70s. They put in a generator and a well. They graciously provide water during the day to the village. One day, the water stopped. It just stopped. There appeared to be no response to this crisis. We asked the head of the village, if the water has stopped, what do you do for water? He says, we walk down to the river – about half a mile – and carry water back up the hill. They have no vehicle, and they carry the containers on their head for that distance. We asked several other questions, but it was very clear to us that no one was going to get about fixing the water problem. The water was here, and now it is not – things happen. All over this part of Africa, you can see abandoned water works that were put in by the Germans or the British that no longer work. They appeared, they stopped working – that is how life is.
A Rope Swing. In another anecdote, a Canadian volunteer installed a rope swing for the students of this small school in Endulen. They loved it – used it all the time. One day, someone pushed it up in the tree, and it got stuck. Each day, they would come and look at the spot where the swing used to be, and lament, “No swing”. It was up there 4 months. They all knew where the ladder was, they had seen the Canadian put it up. They were perfectly capable of climbing the tree. But it was not theirs, it just happened, and now it is gone.
They are not in charge of life – life happens to them. As a western person, it is hard for me to even believe that this is true. I cannot stop myself from fixing a toilet anywhere on the planet that is leaking! My head says this is what humans do – we fix things.
Culture Research. When I returned from my second trip to Tanzania, I found a book which helped me understand this a bit: Culture and Organizations by Geert Hofstede. It is a sociological study of IBM employees around the world. It describes five major cultural values, and ranks them by country. As noted above, cultures are very complex, but the book explores these five in some detail.
Each chapter includes an anecdote to help illustrate the fundamental power of this one world view component. One attribute is called “Power Distance”. The author ranked the nations of his study by the degree of separation that they experience from the top to the bottom of their society. When I talk about this with people, I ask the audience where they think the US falls on this hierarchy. Do we have a large gap from top to bottom, or a small one? Invariably, they will say that we have a relatively small one, as compared to places like Africa or India or most of Asia. We have some sense that we are all equal.
Then I tell them the story in the book which illustrates this cultural value. This article appeared in the Dutch newspaper NRCC/Handelsblad, December 23, 1988. (Hoffstede, p. 47)
Stockholm, December 23. The Swedish King Carl Gustav this week experienced considerable delay while shopping for Christmas presents for his children, when he wanted to pay by cheque but could not show his cheque card. The salesperson refused to accept the cheque without legitimation. Only when helpful bystanders dug in their pockets for one-crown pieces showing the face of the King, the salesperson decided to accept this for legitimation, not ,however, without testing the cheque thoroughly for authenticity and noting the name and address of the holder.
I can just see this clerk in the store. “I don’t care if he’s the king, if he doesn’t have a cheque card he can’t write a check.” When they show her his picture on the coin, I can just hear her say, “Fine. But he has to write down his address!” I doubt that the US President will ever find him or herself in this predicament. The Scandinavians, as a whole, have a very low Power Distance. They rank 47th or 48th on a list of 53 countries studied. The US ranks 38th on that list. At the top of the list, we find Malaysia, Guatemala, Panama, Philippines and Mexico. The point is, no one taught the citizens of Sweden that the king is not that big a deal. It is how they all see the world, and how they all react. The king is a servant of the people. He is one of us, and he does our bidding. I have some theories as to why they see the king so differently, but the difference is profound. That view does not change if they emigrate to another country. Their children may change, but they will not. It is simply part of how they see the world.
Culture matters, and almost nothing else does! That is the major conclusion of the book cited above. Culture is formed over centuries. The Scandinavians endured bitter winters, survived by forming close knit tribes, and all understand that they depend on each other. When they thought they needed a king, they created one. Those of us whose culture formed within the Roman Empire, and then the Holy Roman Empire, somehow got the impression that God or some higher power installed our fearless leader. Our power distance is much greater.
Differences in our Culture
Sometimes it is helpful to see our own world from outside, as someone else might view it. It helps keep our sense of balance when we look at other cultures. These are a few examples of how some other cultures might view parts of our own – the North American culture.
We are in charge of the planet. I do not know if it is from Genesis or the stress of a northern climate, but those of us in the West, and in the US in particular, seem to feel that we are in charge of the planet. We never hesitate to try to fix something – even something remote and difficult – like the political or economic structure of other nations. Or the toilet we find in a rest room! Other peoples do not feel this same compulsion, and are given to utter amazement as to where we will poke our noses and spend our money.
Home Visits. When we host families from Nicaragua, we tend to show them the entire length and breadth of our home. We want them to feel at home, and we show them around. We regularly do this for visitors, especially if the home is new to them. In homes in Nicaragua, you are shown where you will sleep and the outhouse, and any washing facilities. That is it. Imagine their wonderment when we take them through room after room of our spacious houses. They tell us, much later, that they wonder why we need to show off our huge homes.
Minnesota Nice. People from Minnesota generally treat difficult situations with some circumspection. We may hesitate to raise an issue that is sensitive, for fear of offending. One of my sons, who lives and works on the East Coast, tells me that I am avoiding problems when I should be confronting them head on. He thinks we are naïve and ineffective!
Gifts. North Americans exchange gifts without a great deal of concern or ceremony. If someone called you up today, and told you that they could not use their tickets to the next Twins game, would you like to go – what would you say? Why not! Sure. Thanks. Would you give it another thought?
In some cultures, accepting a gift would obligate you to respond in kind, or even in a grander way. For example, what if you had received several of these ticket gifts? And then the season ticket holder calls and asks you to please help him negotiate a business deal with your employer, or with another friend of yours? Would you feel you have a moral obligation to assist? In some cultures the answer would be clear. For these cultures, all business is built on relationships, and relationships are established by doing favors, exchanging gifts. When you accepted the gift, you accepted the obligation.
If you do not want to enter into that kind of relationship, you do not accept the gift. The challenge is to find a way to turn it down graciously – without offending.
Cultural Differences – Sources
It is one thing to catalog some of the differences between cultures. It is quite another to determine their origins. Various authors have pointed to climate differences, religion, the absence of small grains, and the influence of a major philosophy – such as Confucianism. My personal theory is that climate had a lot to do with it. People in northern climates tend to plan further ahead, and tend to depend more on each other.
Practical Implications
Dealing with another culture, it is important to have some idea of the parts of that culture that are radically different than our own. The following are some examples of behavior that may result from cultural traits. Some are positive from our perspective – others negative. If you have others to share, I would greatly appreciate learning about them. Please note, this is not trying to describe an entire culture – just some elements that I have encountered.
1) Elderly are treated with respect, and respond with wisdom.
I noted this myself in Italy and Nicaragua. The elderly persons in a group are given great respect, and their words carry significant weight. They are expected to be wise and they tend to respond in kind and live up to those expectations.
A good friend noted that in Ecuador, as an older person, he was often singled out for preferred entrance in boarding airplanes, ferries and the like. On two airplane trips he was pulled from the back of the crowd and practically dragged onto the plane along with the first class passengers.
Implications:
I noted this myself in Italy and Nicaragua. The elderly persons in a group are given great respect, and their words carry significant weight. They are expected to be wise and they tend to respond in kind and live up to those expectations.
A good friend noted that in Ecuador, as an older person, he was often singled out for preferred entrance in boarding airplanes, ferries and the like. On two airplane trips he was pulled from the back of the crowd and practically dragged onto the plane along with the first class passengers.
Implications:
a) If you are an elder, you should consider your comments carefully, as they will have added weight.
b) You should graciously accept any preferential treatment based on your age. It would be impolite to refuse.
2) Hospitality is warmly extended.
It may take a bit more to overcome the initial distance of strangers, but once accepted, you are welcomed like family, with warmth and graciousness. You may find yourself sleeping in the master bedroom while your hosts are out in the shack.
Implications: Be a gracious recipient of such blessings. Your hosts may not have a great deal to share, and you should simply accept it graciously. Of course, after 3 days, fish and guests acquire some odor. You should pick up some portion of the burden at that point.
It may take a bit more to overcome the initial distance of strangers, but once accepted, you are welcomed like family, with warmth and graciousness. You may find yourself sleeping in the master bedroom while your hosts are out in the shack.
Implications: Be a gracious recipient of such blessings. Your hosts may not have a great deal to share, and you should simply accept it graciously. Of course, after 3 days, fish and guests acquire some odor. You should pick up some portion of the burden at that point.
3) Open communication is restrained.
Many cultures tend to be very hierarchical. This is particularly true in countries that were under Spanish influence, but it is true in many parts of the world, including Asia. Religion has also had an enormous influence toward hierarchical thinking. Spain has only grown out of this in the last 30 years. In a hierarchical culture, the leaders of a society are privileged. Only the powerful have any ability to initiate change. This also gives rise to a “patron-client” system. In order to accomplish anything, you need a powerful patron or sponsor.
Implications:
Many cultures tend to be very hierarchical. This is particularly true in countries that were under Spanish influence, but it is true in many parts of the world, including Asia. Religion has also had an enormous influence toward hierarchical thinking. Spain has only grown out of this in the last 30 years. In a hierarchical culture, the leaders of a society are privileged. Only the powerful have any ability to initiate change. This also gives rise to a “patron-client” system. In order to accomplish anything, you need a powerful patron or sponsor.
Implications:
a) It is very difficult to get a direct response to a suggestion or question. It may be difficult to directly address a problem or disagreement. Do not be quick to assume that silence or simple signs of agreement are anything more than a polite response.
b) Failure is not ascribed to a responsible cause or person, but is described as a simple event. You never accuse someone, or blame someone. Some things just happen.
c) Leadership is not something to be sought, because it raises suspicions as to the motive.
d) Corruption is common, because no one can bring the leadership to task directly. Leaders are not confronted, they are attacked obliquely.
e) Common people cannot criticize or confront leaders directly. They resort to criticism behind the scenes and various undercutting strategies. This often strikes us as an immature response, but it is their norm.
f) Representatives of wealthy nations are seen as authoritarian figures. Watch what you suggest, wait until everyone else has spoken.
4) Initiative may be limited.
In a hierarchical culture, one looks to the leadership for direction. What am I supposed to do now? Conversely, if there is a problem, it is blamed on the leadership, or someone else.
Implications:
In a hierarchical culture, one looks to the leadership for direction. What am I supposed to do now? Conversely, if there is a problem, it is blamed on the leadership, or someone else.
Implications:
a) Individual initiative is limited, because people look for help from outside, from those in authority.
b) A suggestion from an authority figure may be interpreted as a command or ultimatum.
c) A sense of fatalism prevails, with hope and expectations placed on the deity, the government, or outside forces, and not on personal initiative. If we can only persuade them, or destroy them, we can succeed.
5) Resources are seen as limited.
Members of developing nations generally see all good things as in limited supply. If one person gets some, they came from someone else. Obtaining wealth is a matter of competition, not cooperation. The North has abundant riches, so the goal is to take them away in order to share them. Conversely, cultures that foster development believe that wealth is something that we create, and it is virtually unlimited.
Implications:
Members of developing nations generally see all good things as in limited supply. If one person gets some, they came from someone else. Obtaining wealth is a matter of competition, not cooperation. The North has abundant riches, so the goal is to take them away in order to share them. Conversely, cultures that foster development believe that wealth is something that we create, and it is virtually unlimited.
Implications:
a) Cooperation is very difficult and limited.
b) The initiatives of others may be attacked because they are seen as reducing the available goods.
c) The solution to poverty is seen as moving wealth around, from the rich to the poor, not as generating wealth.
6) Trust is limited.
Hierarchical societies tend to give the leadership class free reign. Corruption is the norm. This privilege, coupled with the scarcity mentality, makes cooperation and sharing very difficult. Many developing cultures have a trust circle that is limited to the family, and sometimes extends to the tribe. It rarely goes beyond that scope.
Implications:
Hierarchical societies tend to give the leadership class free reign. Corruption is the norm. This privilege, coupled with the scarcity mentality, makes cooperation and sharing very difficult. Many developing cultures have a trust circle that is limited to the family, and sometimes extends to the tribe. It rarely goes beyond that scope.
Implications:
a) It is very difficult to establish a cooperative venture.
b) Compromise is seen as failure, not something that benefits both sides.
c) The world view is win / lose. Win / win is not a realistic possibility.
d) Initiative is regarded as useless because someone else will benefit from it.
e) Favor is curried, because it may produce goods from someone in power.
f) Any amount of money is always regarded with suspicion and concern.
7) Hard work is regarded poorly.
A hierarchical society normally has a large income gap, with a few wealthy individuals at the top. This class tends to view common labor with disdain. This value judgment influences the entire culture. In addition, even without a hierarchical perspective, if there is no real opportunity to benefit from hard work because of social stratification, or lack of a supportive economic or legal structure, labor is not seen as beneficial. This also works with the idea that goods are limited. Hard work will not produce any benefit.
Implications :
A hierarchical society normally has a large income gap, with a few wealthy individuals at the top. This class tends to view common labor with disdain. This value judgment influences the entire culture. In addition, even without a hierarchical perspective, if there is no real opportunity to benefit from hard work because of social stratification, or lack of a supportive economic or legal structure, labor is not seen as beneficial. This also works with the idea that goods are limited. Hard work will not produce any benefit.
Implications :
a) Labor is seen as a necessary evil and a burden to be minimized as much as possible.
b) Frugality or saving is not common, as it produces very few benefits.
8) Philanthropy is uncommon.
If most people are relatively poor, there is little point in giving up some of what I have to benefit others. In individual cases, people will help a neighbor or someone else out of pity, but an organized effort is unlikely.
Implication:
If most people are relatively poor, there is little point in giving up some of what I have to benefit others. In individual cases, people will help a neighbor or someone else out of pity, but an organized effort is unlikely.
Implication:
a) Suspicion about your own philanthropy should be expected. It is not part of their experience, and it may take them a while to trust that you are not working with some ulterior motivation.
b) If you are in contact with the upper class in another culture, do not expect them to fully participate in what you are trying to accomplish. For example, a delegation from the North may be enlisted to paint the physician’s office, rather than help with a clinic for the poor.
9) Change is threatening.
In a hierarchical culture, any change is seen as a threat to the power of the leadership. This makes the culture very conservative and opposed to change. Tradition and solidarity with others are highly valued. Any change threatens the stability of the society.
Implication:
In a hierarchical culture, any change is seen as a threat to the power of the leadership. This makes the culture very conservative and opposed to change. Tradition and solidarity with others are highly valued. Any change threatens the stability of the society.
Implication:
a) Dissent or differences of opinion are regarded as threats, not as productive parts of a discussion.
b) Time focus is on the past, not the future potential.
Caveats
That’s a Latin word that means “watch out”, here are the possible issues.
- Broad Brush. Every nation, every culture has individuals within it that are exceptional, that do not conform to the culture. We call those people criminals, or reactionaries, or revolutionaries, or visionaries, depending on their departure from the norm. But some of them are the source of change and progress. That is normal. This paper takes a broad brush stroke to an entire region, or people, or nation. That is going to appear to be simplistic, but it is unavoidable. It is obvious that there is not one culture even within a single country. And there are not 20 or even 50 cultural traits. There are thousands. But some simplification is required just to convey the idea that culture has a powerful impact. Every culture has multiple strains, multiple factors. Every nation has multiple cultures within it. That does not deny the truth of the impact of culture – it just makes it more complicated, which is part of the human condition. There is no black and white here, despite our biological desire to simplify things that threaten us.
- · Things Change. I personally think that culture changes very slowly, but many times, I hear exceptional cases, where these cultural constraints are overcome. There is one women’s group in the mountains of Nicaragua that has a thriving cooperative that seems to function well. There are similar examples from Cambodia and other places. There is hope, there is progress. Don’t despair.
- · Not Complete. None of the ideas in this paper were created by the author. They are all the results of the work of other people. And nothing about this paper is complete. You can contribute to it and help improve it. Please take the initiative to do so.
