Understanding Culture

Understanding cultural behavior, values and cognitive traits are important attributes for current and future military leadership. Modern warfare in complex operational environments has forced the United States Army increased interaction between Soldiers and civilians. In today’s society cultural awareness is a sensitive and argued subject. Culture has many definitions depending on the audience because every interpretation differs throughout the world. Some define culture as, where one was raised others base it on food and some view it as morals and beliefs. Culture can bring people together; it can also cause major conflict. This is why it is important to understand cultures throughout the world. Cultural landscapes can be considered operational …show more content…
Imposing American values on unwilling people in a foreign country may have undesired strategic and operational consequences (Braziel, 2011). In the Arabic world, the tribal system plays a large role in culture. “Loyalty to the group is highly valued and responsibility is considered to fall on the group rather that the individual” (Wunderle, 2006). The idea of collectivism is greater than individualism in the Arabic world. Understanding collectivism is essential to working together. “Originality and independence of judgment are not valued as highly as teamwork” (Wunderle, 2006). Tribes are mostly dictated by region, and arbitrary country boundaries throughout the Middle East. This means that tribal and religious leaders, may not necessarily agree with the national government. Nationalism is not a shared trait in the rural parts of the Middle East. Value understanding must be accessed regionally. Formal and informal leadership is essential. There are tribal structures that form informal leadership roles and formal leadership in the civic realm (Wunderle, 2006). There could be instances where some fall in both categories, but that is not the norm. Wunderle (2006) describes a fatalism that also needs to be understood in Arabic culture. There is a general acceptance of circumstances, a belief that people have little control over what happens to them and they must accept the fate handed to them by God (Wunderle, 2006). God’s will, regardless of good or …show more content…
Understanding that cognitive responses are not interchangeable is important. Only through studying and working with Arabs has the United States made headway in cultural interaction. Understanding of one’s own culture is always developed through interaction with others (Miu, 2005). Identifying cultural variables in an area of operation helps show Soldiers how they can do their jobs effectively (Onal, 2012). Based on culture, decisions can be made by an authoritative figure or the individual. What individuals are willing to accept as a normal part of life is a complex result of personality, beliefs, cultural environment and life history (Wunderle, 2006). The reasoning style dictates how individuals come to a conclusion. The culture-general aspect of cross-cultural competence endures—it constitutes the requisite foundation of knowledge, attitudes, and repertoire of skills that help military members to adapt, develop, and perform effectively amid cultural diversity throughout a military career (Hajjar, 2010). Cultural diversity helps leaders make decisions and how they present issues to other cultures. By evaluating beliefs and values, one can help influence decisions by considering sociocultural factors. Sociocultural factors are the social, cultural, and behavioral factors characterizing the relationships and activities of the population of a specific region or operational environment (JP 2-01.3) must be closely analyzed during