Culture

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

Relative
Learned
Collective
Changes over time
Complex responsive process

SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Forces Shaping Individual
Culture
Urbanization Nationalism Colonisation
Education

Migration
Industrialization
Personal
Minority
Culture Social
Experience
background
Values
World-views
Cross-
Beliefs Ethnic
cultural
background
Adjustments Behaviours
Profession
Religion
Gender Language
SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 Dangers!

 Stereotypes

 Prejudice

 Ethno-centric perspectives

SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Culture – In Peace Operations

Military – Military Civilians –

(International) Civilians
(International)
CULTURE
Military – Civilians International
(Organizational) actors Local
communities
Local
Communities

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
SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 Understanding Cultural
differences
Eating habits

Beef
Pork
Horse
“Everything that moves”

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

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

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
SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 Understanding Cultural
differences
Communication

Language is culture specific

Avoid use of idiomatic
expressions
Humour

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
SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 Understanding Cultural
differences
Dress Code

Depends on culture, customs,

traditions and climate
Adapt to local customs

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
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”
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
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”

SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Cultural Shock

Unfamiliar:
– Language
– Climate
– Currency
– Road signs
– Colleagues
Adaptation process
SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 The Adaptation Stages

Honeymoon
Initial
confrontation
Adjustment crisis
Recovery

SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 The Adaptation Stages

STAGE SITUATION APPROACH REACTION

Excitement;
First exciting
Curiosity;
Honeymoon contact with Observe
Slight
new culture
concern

Confusion;
First intensive Solve Mystified
Initial
feeling with problems in about;
confrontation
new culture familiar ways Others
behaviour
SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 The Adaptation Stages

STAGE SITUATION APPROACH REACTION

Frustration;
Experimentation
Adjustment Problems Anger;
with new
crisis intensify behaviours
Confusion
about

New
Sense of New culture is
strategies to
belonging to understandable;
Recovery help one
culture Enjoying many
function aspect of it
emerges
effectively
SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 Maintaining Good Relations

Between military and civilian

With other military contingents
Team work

SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Cultural Awareness

“If you are

 Humble
 Respectful
 Friendly

you will always be fine”

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

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
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

SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Questions ?

SGTM 1.1@30JUNE03 TES / Mil Div / DPKO