Conflict Abroad

Human rights are the standard of most Western justice systems. Whatever protects human rights is just; whatever goes against human rights is unjust. In most Western countries all people regardless of their status have many personal rights guaranteed by the government. These often include such things as the right to speak one’s mind in public (even if this insults the government), the right to worship as one pleases, and the right to hold meetings with other citizens. People are expected not to violate each other’s rights.

Personal rights and freedoms go as far as they can without reducing the rights and freedoms of others. 

In many other cultures, they have no Bill of Rights to ensure personal freedoms. They have never had one, and their government may be dedicated to the proposition that they will never get one. This can be hard for us to understand and to abide by, which may lead to conflict.

In some Western cultures, if we succeed at something, we want to take credit for it. If we fail, we want to find someone else to blame. This protects our self-esteem.

Though we do not always like to take responsibility for our own actions, we love to demand that other people take responsibility for theirs. Americans in particular, sue (and win) over matters that would get laughed out of court in most countries. 

Our cultural bias toward solving problems and improving things has some dangerous implications in the area of taking credit and laying blame. We tend to call attention to the individual who is responsible for a success or failure. This is a blunder in cultures that go to great lengths to avoid shame of any kind. In such cultures, calling attention to a blameworthy act may be judged to be worse than the act itself.

Many Westerners want as little limitation as possible from authorities in government, society, family and the workplace. We see authorities as people who interfere with personal freedom. 

We know that there must be some authorities in order for a nation to exist, but we insist that the basis for their authority is the consensus of the common people. Sometimes this can be seen as rules limit freedom. Therefore, the fewer rules, the better. The person who can question authority is often more respected than the one who submits to authority without thinking.

This can contrast other cultures where proverbs remind people to trust and respect authorities of all kinds.  They appreciate rules as good things. Rules are guides to right behavior. 

If a local cultural rule does not make sense to a Westerner, we are apt to either break it or ask for an explanation. When we ask, we are implying that those we are asking owe us an explanation and we have a right to break the rule unless they can give us a good explanation.

It does not come naturally to us to obey local cultural rules that make no sense to us. A basic challenge of cultural adjustment is the challenge to sometimes obey first and ask questions later.

If you live in another culture, the chances that you will get involved in some conflict with a local person or group are very high. So are the chances that you will handle it badly if you try to use your own cultural rules for interpersonal conflicts. Each culture has its own patterns for handling conflicts.

Who argues with whom under what circumstances? What actions are expected and tolerated in a conflict?

When a local person takes offense because of some comment or action that you did not intend as an insult, don’t protest your innocence. You were only innocent by your cultural standards. Instead, ask for some advice so you can avoid repeating the cultural mistake.