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HOW CULTURE AFFECTS THE WORLD

Minchung Chang
CUL 3310: Introduction to Cultural Competence: Making Sense of the World I
March 9, 2018
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Modern society demands that individuals develop and develop the flexibility to

understand and respect these cultural differences among groups. In particular, it is characterized

by cultural pluralism in a society composed of various races and ethnic groups such as the United

States. When various cultures are encountered in society, if cultural differences are not

recognized, and other cultures are oppressed by a reference system dominated by a particular

culture, it can become a severe social problem. Therefore, it is significant to recognize that all

cultures are valuable and to teach respect for cultural differences. The cultural differences by the

factors lead to conflict or differences between nation-states, groups, and alliances. To understand

and respect the cultural differences, learning what culture is and the factors of culture are

required and apply cultural factors to different regions of the world. Culture is defining the

values and roles of an organization. Cultural factors are religion, ethnicity, nationalism, and

modernization, and they are related to each other. The cultural differences by the factors lead to

conflict or differences between nation-states, groups, and alliances.

The first cultural factor is religion. Religion a belief, and it has a role that plays in culture,

and society is vital. Religious belief is related to is one of the significant causes of violence in the

world, which is related to terrorism and security. Some religions believe that their God is

superior and that the way that the other do their practices is looking down upon, which can lead

to violence, and it would affect all religions around the world. Europe is a significant country in

the world in a cultural, economical way, especially in the United States.

Europe has a unique and variety of cultures that impact politics and security issues in

Europe, such as a religion. Muslims rapidly increased after World War two because of the

immigration move to Europe. Muslims immigration is a significant influence on the European

Union. Muslim extremists are one of the examples of how religion influences on security.
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Muslim extremists are threatening not only Europe but the entire world, because of their

religious beliefs. People are afraid of terrorism by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The recent terror attack in Europe, which people called “Ariana Grande attack” or

“Manchester attack,” can be an example of the problem. According to NBC NEWS, Salman

Abedi, who is the suicide bomber, detonated a bomb outside of the Ariana Grande concert, and

he killed 22 people and injured 120 people. U.S. nor British officials could not find any evidence

of ISIS has responsibility for the attack. However, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

Furthermore, it makes fear into the mind of Europeans.1 It shows that the problem can affect the

relations between the United States and Europe. Besides, if this situation continues, “transatlantic

divorce” can occur between the United States and Europe.2

The second cultural factor is ethnicity and nationalism. Ethnicity and nationalism have

varying degrees of relevance depending on the nation-state, region, and society to which they are

applied. Ethnicity and nationalism have a long history, even before globalization.

In Northeast Asia, issues of memory, identity, and nationalism are regional instability and

potential conflict. “History disputes” is a source of instability for the region. Identifying the

ethnicity and nationalism of the country are required to have international relations. It highlights

the central role that memory, history, and identity play in the international relations of the area,

with wide-ranging implications for U.S. foreign policy. East Asia has been called not only for the

name of the single geographical location pointed to by the Korean peninsula, China, and Japan,

1 Eoghan, M., Alexander, S., Jason, C.,& Alex J. (2017). “Manchester Arena Suicide
Bombing: 22 Die at Ariana Grande Concert”,
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/deaths-injuries-confirmed-after-explosions-heard-u-k-
concert-featuring-n763286
2 Sloan, Stanley. "How does Religion Affect Relations between America and Europe?"
Atlantic Community Initiative, (Winter 2005): 2-6.
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but also for the region that has achieved past economic development at a phenomenal rate in the

Confucian culture or Chinese culture since the 1970s.

According to Mailonline, WWII video showing the bodies of dozens of Korean slaves

who were raped and murdered by Japanese troops for the first time is open to the international

debate. 3 The plight of the 'comfort women' is a hugely emotional issue that has, for decades,

marred ties between Japan and its neighbors. South Korea and China. As the relationship

between Korea and Japan deteriorated due to the controversy over the recent past, the U.S.

government is actively engaged in diplomatic intervention. As a result, the East Asian region

may not be able to expect sustainable peace and security as long as Japan denies its historical

facts. Also, Japan is claiming sovereignty over Dokdo Island in Korea. Although there are many

particular pieces of evidence that Dokdo is Korean territory, it can be summarized that Dokdo is

represented as Korea 's territory in various maps of Westerners written in the late 19th century.

Not only that, Dokdo is about 50 miles from Ulleungdo, but it is about 90 miles from Oki Island,

the nearest Japanese territory to Dokdo, and is closer to our territory. We can see that nationalism

and historical facts have a significant impact on current border disputes and relations.

The third cultural factor is Modernization. After the globalization started, the world

changed by technology and commerce and cultural differences. In the in Middle Eastern,

modernization brought two possible political futures. Barber argues the world changed by

technology and commerce and cultural differences. He argues that the world has two possible

political futures with modernization in Middle Eastern. The first one is " a retribalization of large

3 Tracy, Y., Alastair, T., and Tiffany, L. (2018),

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5444813/First-footage-showing-WWII-Japan-army-
killing-sex-slaves.html
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swaths of humankind by war and bloodshed." The situation can lead to 'Lebanonization.' Most of

the Middle Eastern countries have been artificially created recently and are therefore subject to

this process. In the case, the state falls into a confused state of confusion with sects, races,

regions, and factions as happened in Lebanon. If the situation worsens, the central government

will eventually collapse. Second is the "pressing nations into one commercially homogenous

global network," which is the example of McWorld. He said, “[it] is being borne in on us by the

onrush of economic and ecological forces that demand integration and uniformity.” 4Also,

"Muslim fundamentalist movements are benefiting from an increase in the flow of information,

speed of communication, and mobility more than any other political movements in the region."

The attacks of September 11 show the example of how modernization affected Middle Eastern

culture. Griffel said, “globalization has strengthened Islamic fundamentalism in the region by

facilitating extensive networks of formerly dissociated Muslims.”5

The last cultural factor is Geography. Geography is related to cultural influences and

interactions with outsiders, and it has an impact on diplomacy, military, and commerce. Latin

America's proximity to the United States does affect relationships and security. Geographic

proximity is related to economic and security. Mark has pointed out economic linkages, legal and

illegal immigration, and drug trafficking. In an economic aspect, geographic proximity between

Latin America and the United States has economic linkages, which means it is the major trading

partner and most abundant source of foreign investment. Besides, legal and illegal immigration

and drug trafficking are related to a security problem. Since Latin America sits in America's

backyard, there is more immigrants come to the United States from Latin America than any other

Barber, Benjamin R. "Jihad vs. McWorld." The Atlantic Monthly. March 1992.
4
Griffel, Frank. "Globalization and the Middle East: Part II." Yale Global Online, 21
5
January 2003.
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country. Mark argues, "Curbing the flow of illicit drugs from Latin America and the Caribbean

has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region and a major interest of Congress for

some three decades." It is one of the reasons why the United States needs to understand the

culture in Latin America. 6

Awareness of the cultural four factors and recognizing the cultural differences is

significant. Countries have complicated relations with each other. It is hard to live without any

relations with other countries. We need to figure out the struggles from cultural differences by

understanding cultural factors. If the countries of the world, including the United States, attempt

to understand each other 's culture based on four cultural elements, it can be an essential solution

to solve various global conflicts.

6 U.S. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. Latin American and the
Caribbean: Issues for the 114th Congress by Mark P. Sullivan, Washington, DC: January 4,
2017.
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Bibliography

Barber, Benjamin R. "Jihad vs. McWorld." The Atlantic Monthly. March 1992.
Eoghan, M., Alexander, S., Jason, C., &Alex J. (2017). “Manchester Arena Suicide Bombing: 22
Die at Ariana Grande Concert”. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/deaths-injuries-
confirmed-after- explosions-heard-u-k-concert-featuring-n763286
Griffel, Frank. "Globalization and the Middle East: Part II." Yale Global Online, 21 January
2003.
Sloan, Stanley. "How does Religion Affect Relations between America and Europe?" Atlantic
Community Initiative, (Winter 2005): 2-6.
Tracy, Y., Alastair, T., and Tiffany, L. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5444813/First-
footage-showing-WWII-Japan-army-killing-sex-slaves.htm
U.S. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. Latin American and the Caribbean:
Issues for the 114th Congress by Mark P. Sullivan, Washington, DC: January 4, 2017.