SGTM 5 B

Attitudes & Behaviour

Cultural Awareness

SGTM TES / Mil Div /

 Structure of Presentation

What is Culture?
Understanding Cultural differences
Dealing with Cultural differences
Case studies

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 Culture

A shared system of
meanings,
beliefs,
values
behaviours

through which experience is

interpreted and carried out
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 Culture Is ..

Relative
Learned
Collective
Changes over time
Complex responsive process

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 Forces Shaping Individual
Culture
Urbanization Nationalism Colonisation
Education

Migration
Industrialization

Minority
Personal
Experience Culture Social
background
Values
World-views
Cross-
Ethnic
cultural Beliefs
background
Adjustments Behaviours
Profession
Religion
Gender Language

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 Dangers!

Stereotypes

Prejudice

Ethno-centric perspectives

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 Culture In Peace Operations

Military Military Civilians

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

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 Understanding Cultural
differences
Eating habits

Asia- chop sticks

Europe - knife and fork
Clean right hand in some
countries
Common plate

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 Understanding Cultural
differences
Eating habits

Beef
Pork
Horse
Everything that moves

SGTM TES / Mil Div /

 Understanding Cultural
differences
Eating habits

Pork not eaten by Muslims for

religious reasons
Christians keep horses, dogs
and cats as pets
Fish is neutral

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 Understanding Cultural
differences
Religion

Religion an important place in

many societies
Knowledge of religion of host
nation very important
Respect religious beliefs

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 Understanding Cultural
differences
Family and Gender

Elders are highly respected in

some cultures
Understand family ties
Different gender beliefs and
views
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 Understanding Cultural
differences
Communication

Language is culture specific

Avoid use of idiomatic
expressions
Humour

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 Understanding Cultural
differences
Body Language

Gesture/body language have

different meanings
Smile will never be misunderstood
Polite handshake is accepted in most
cultures

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 Understanding Cultural
differences
Dress Code

Depends on culture, customs,

traditions and climate
Adapt to local customs

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 Understanding Cultural
differences
Traffic

Peacekeeper die in traffic

accidents
Different traffic conditions
Respect local traffic laws
Adapt to local conditions

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 Understanding Cultural
differences
Time

People have different concept of

time
Need to understand
You have the clock, we have the
time
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 Building Cultural Awareness

Understand your own culture

Understand and accept logic of
other cultural frameworks
Cultural differences as unique
and creative problem-solving
opportunity
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 Host Countrys Culture

Knowledge of history, culture,

customs and traditions
Background for the conflict
Expectations from Blue Berets

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 Cultural Shock

Unfamiliar:
Language
Climate
Currency
Road signs
Colleagues
Adaptation process
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 The Adaptation Stages

Honeymoon
Initial
confrontation
Adjustment crisis
Recovery

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 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 TES / Mil Div /

 The Adaptation Stages

STAGE SITUATION APPROACH REACTION

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

New New culture is

Sense of
strategies to understandable
belonging to
Recovery help one ;
culture Enjoying many
function
emerges aspect of it
effectively

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 Maintaining Good Relations

Between military and civilian

With other military contingents
Team work

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 Cultural Awareness

If you are

Humble
Respectful
Friendly

you will always be fine

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 Case Studies

The market place

The toilet experience
To walk hand in hand
Movement control at the airport
The gift

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 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
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 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

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 Questions ?

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