Problem
Cultural barriers
Experimental visualization of narrower problems
Other Names:
Dependence on cultural barriers Nature:
Cultural barriers, a result of a lack of appreciation of cultural differences and the reasons behind different customs, bolster misunderstanding and conflict. One of the most solid cultural barriers is language. Ideological conflicts due to different economic, political, religious or social systems also divide cultures. Customs and traditions can vary so widely between cultures, that, for example, a gesture which would elicit a favourable response in one place may be considered insulting in another; consequently, many cross-cultural development programmes, having a "one-sided" design, are doomed to failure.
Incidence:
In every country where there has been immigration, there are likely to be cultural barriers between the original and the new population. Immigrants often react to discrimination and isolation by clinging to their former culture as a source of unity and strength, thus feeding the misunderstandings between the two groups.
Broader Problems:
Cultural fragmentationLack of international understandingObstacles to satellite communications Narrower Problems:
Inter-cultural trade barriersLanguage as a barrier to communicationRestrictive channels of cultural interchangeUntransferability of books between countries and culturesBarriers to the international flow of knowledge and educational materials Related Problems:
Destruction of natural barriers Aggravates:
Culture shockMisunderstandingCommunication breakdownInter-cultural misunderstandingSocially unintegrated expatriates Reduced By:
Cultural invasionForced assimilation
References:
Thiederman, Sondra: Bridging Cultural Barriers for Corporate Success: how to manage the multicultural work forceKolmer, Rainer and Payne, Jerry: Babel: the cultural and linguistic barriers between nations Subject(s):
Culture → Culture Societal Problems → Dependence
Societal Problems → Impediments
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
B: Basic universal problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST