Cultural Differences In Multinational Operations

Besides above described opportunities, multinational operations have posed many challenges including political differences, command difficulties, interoperability, intelligence sharing, cultural diversity, to mention only few. Political differences are always challenge in multinational operations regardless the similarities of political systems of force contributing countries. Each and every country has its own political system that determines its security and defense policy and respective strategies. Despite having similar or same objectives in a multinational operation that attract countries to join a coalition or alliance, their concepts on how to achieve those objectives might differ resulting in significant frictions in the operation. Differences in allies’ political and legal systems imposes differences in national concepts, …show more content…
The success of a multinational operation is greatly “influenced by the ability to develop an ‘own mission culture’ and, furthermore, the ability to integrate the members of various armed forces into this common environment.” Despite the fact that all military organizations forge, to certain extent, common rules and values, such as subordination, hierarchy, cohesion, comradeship, they still retain some cultural elements that are specific only for particular militaries. The multinational operation mission accomplishment requires high level of cultural awareness about foreign cultures and their interactions within the mission culture. Personnel has to understand and adapt themselves to linguistic diversity, double (national and mission) line of command and control, flexibility and openness. All these adaptations are directed towards reducing stereotypes that develop as a consequence of historical events or past experience, creating positive climate and facilitate mission