Resolving intercultural conflict through understanding and mediation

Intercultural Conflict

Conflict, according to Word Net, (2011) is "an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)" it also defines it further as "opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible feelings." This definition presupposes, and correctly so, that that two varying groups of people/individuals living, working or travelling together have the possibility, even if very remote, of conflicting.

Since man must co-exist, and in the process conflicts have to emerge, the purpose of this paper is to divulge the various ways through which individuals involved in conflict can attempt to solve the conflict as well as looking into the mediation process once the individual conflict resolution method has failed.

When exposing people to a cross cultural situation, there is a likelihood of conflict to occur, and having known this, it is significant to prepare both parties from the varying cultures for the eventualities that they face and how to handle the differences.

2.1 Characteristics of intercultural conflicts

There are various ways in which cultures do vary and in those variations lays the intercultural conflicts. Some of those major outstanding qualities that define the intercultural conflicts are as below:

(a). Societal norms; there is a wide difference between the ideas of what a normality and everyday way of doing things is between the two cultures at loggerheads. Each of the societies are bent o defending their view of what should be the normal way of doing things which may be opposite of what the other culture believe. For instance, in some communities mainly in the Middle East, there is no greeting between people from different genders unless the person is from a close relative circle. If an American goes to such a society and assumes the norms are as in America and tries to greet all the men/women s/he meets, then there can be a rejection of the greetings and consequently a culture clash. In a situation like this, there will then be need for an understanding to be brought about. There is a three fold manner by which this understanding can be brought about, and it is by understanding the facts, attitudes and behavior of the other party.

(b). Difference in facts and beliefs; there are some things that cannot change and will remain constant through ones life. They as well characterize a lot the intercultural conflicts in the contemporary world. Facts are indelible or unchangeable truths like origin, demography, historical background, religious beliefs, education, and economic facts and so on. The above will instill an attitude that may be common among the people from that region and eventually these attitudes will determine how they behave towards people from another culture. The same effect will be on the people from another culture hence the conflict in the intercultural standpoints. One should strive to understand what the other society's attitude towards social ideals like time, truth (and how to tell it), relationships, the human condition (risks and freedom of choice) and communication is (Pooley, R., (2005).

(c). Ethnic differences; this is another common cause of many intercultural conflicts especially in Africa and other developing countries. The people believe that for them to have an identity they must identify with their ethnic groupings. Any threat directed to ethnic orientation and values, the ethnic belongings and the ethnic group in general can solicit a violent intercultural response and clash.

(d). Race for Resources; this is another common cause of conflict that mostly runs across cultures. If it were within people with the same cultural orientation, then they can easily talk it out and get to share the resource (Learn Peace, 2011). However, when a resource is scarce and valuable like minerals and even rivers, then there is a likelihood that every ethnic group will want to keep the whole quantity hence resulting into cross-cultural tensions.

The above characteristics and many more will come into play in intercultural conflicts though it will be the misuse or deliberate abuse of them that will lead a group to violent conflict with the other or even a non-violent conflict that will sustain an intercultural conflict in interests and ideologies. Indeed in his book Intercultural Communication: A Layered Approach, Oetzel, J.G., (2008) argues that there cannot be animosity between two groups just because they are from different cultures, he refuses to subscribe to the idea that culture is a function of ethnicity. It is until the individual in those ethnic groupings manipulate the culture that it ends up in an intercultural conflict.

2.3 Barriers to Intercultural Communication

There are various hindrances to the peaceful and mutual intercultural communication that can be witnessed between two or more cultures that vary. These barriers are though not limited to the following:

(a). Stereotype/evaluation; this happens when one is prejudiced against another and feels he cannot talk or communicate in any way to the other due to their way of life or how they are. It could be that the individual feels the person is too low or too high for him to talk to. However, Barna L.M., (1994) says that there is no a universal to human or no "human nature" we should learn to live with each person we come across.

(b). Prejudice; this preconceived judgment, opinion or belief that is arrived at without ascertaining the facts behind the opinions. In most cases, there are some communication breakdowns between people of varying cultures since one takes it that the other group will not give attention to their concern. This happens a lot between the juniors and the seniors (Durovic J., 2008). The juniors are prejudiced (correctly or otherwise) against the seniors and they always take it that the seniors cannot listen to any of their concerns.

(c). Discrimination; is looking down upon someone due to his race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and so on. This attitude will mostly hinder communication between the two groups, with the person discriminating the other showing no interest in communicating with the vulnerable member of the society. The communication breakdown then may lead the discriminated against lot to look for alternative means of communicating the same as it happened in the 60s and 70s between the colored society and the white society.

The intercultural cases that are encountered are numerous in the contemporary society, however, one that had my attention and happens all the time without notice due to its subtle nature was in a bus back home. The boy sat at the edge of a two person seat in the bus though there was nobody next to the window. Several students passed but it was until one of his race came along that he moved to the window side and welcomed him to sit. Such is an intercultural discrimination that one cannot seek a legal redress since none of those passing asked to sit next to him and he refused. This would only need mediation so that the racist boy can learn that there is equality among all races and anyone is as good sitting beside him as the person from his race.

Conclusion

Regardless of the situation that prevails in the society, there are means through which conflicts can be brought to a stop. The varying cultures are there to stay but conflicts should not be allowed to stay and if the above conflict resolution models are appropriately employed, there can never be lasting conflicts between cultures.