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How do people from other cultures misunderstand each other?

              It is so easy for people to misunderstand one another in their own culture let alone between different cultures. Let’s take the case of the Rwandan Genocide. This horrible event can be traced back to Belgian colonialism. When Belgium left Rwanda, it left a vacuous hole in leadership that was filled with ethnic tensions. A historical struggle between the two ethnic groups within Rwanda turned bloody because neither group understood the other. This can be contributed to the historical grudge that the Tutsis and Hutus have had with one another. Neither group has ever taken the time to look past their anger about the feudal oppression that was prevalent among the groups at the time. In this situation, the demographic imperative could have come into play. Taking the time to consider the identities of the people you share space with is extremely important to not only understand others but also yourself. It is actually in understanding yourself as a person that you can begin to form connections and relationships with other people. It is this blind anger from an oppressive time that caused the Tutsis and Hutus to misunderstand each other. And this can be seen in several other instances around the world. It is often historical contexts that cause people from different cultures to misunderstand each other.

What role do I play in the global economy?

As a consumer, we have a lot of power. It is our dollar which drives demand and thereby supply. This impacts companies in a serious way. Without demand there is no demand for labor, innovation goes up, and better products are produced. It is important to understand and respect what your own role is in the global economy because it affects so much. As it say in the book Intercultural Communication in Contexts 6th edition by Martin and Nakayama, “…to compete effectively in this global market, Americans must understand how business is conducted in other countries.”

             Firstly, my consumption fuels companies which affects workers. Should I choose to support a large corporation who outsources their labor, it is important to know what they are doing for the average worker. Are they paying a living wage? Do they offer a safe and secure workplace? Do they offer benefits to their employees? These are the questions to ask when debating whether to support a company’s business or not.

             Secondly, my consumption affects globalization. When you support multinational corporations, you’re supporting changes in globalization. This makes more goods accessible to more people around the world but it also affects local cultures. As seen with the influence of Starbucks in China, a company can have a profound impact on traditional culture. China has a rich and diverse history of tea drinking. Starbucks has become a sweeping hit in China showing a shift in traditional culture.

The Demographic Imperative