Characteristics Of Cultural Awareness In Africa

“The set of norms, behaviors, beliefs and customs that exist within the population of a sovereign nation. International companies develop management and other practices in accordance with the national culture they are operating in” (BusinessDictionary.com, 2017)

According to Merriam-Webster, there are different things that are classified as a culture. In particular, I believe that culture is defined as “… the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life) shared by people in a place or time” (“Culture”).

What does “culture” mean to you? Culture means things that you do and what you believe in.

This essay will also discuss the authors own culture, knowledge, experience and behaviour that were previously discussed in assessment 1. According to Quappe and Cantatore (2005), in order for one to be culturally self-aware, the ability to understand one’s own belief, perceptions and cultural values are necessary for understanding and the development of other’s cultural dynamics. Moreover, according to Brislin, Worthley and Macnab

In The Battle of Algiers, the cinematography is used to provoke emotions of anger against injustice, in this case, by portraying the Algerians as victims by showing the struggles they live through and emphasizing the condescending manner the French treat the Algerians. Throughout the movie, the juxtaposition between the lives of the Algerians and the French is clear and stark. The Algerians live in a depressing, ghetto-like place called Casbah, whereas the French live in modern city: brightly lit and bustling with life. The French essentially have free access wherever, while the Algerians must carry their identification papers everywhere and are subject to searches by the soldiers. The Algerians always work below the French and are treated

Culture, defined by the Cambridge english dictionary states that culture is the way of life. Especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time. Culture can be broken down into five major characteristics, which are customs, values, religion, government, and ideas.

Culture is a way of life. It can be defined as a group of people linked by geographical location, ethnicity, gender or age. Culture can be reflected through language, clothing, food, behavior, spirituality and traditions. The behavioral patterns developed through culture are difficult to change.

The National Center for Cultural Competence defines “cultural awareness” as being cognizant, observant, and conscious of similarities and differences among and between cultural groups (Goode). Awareness of culture when traveling to a foreign country is invaluable knowledge which only serves to enhance one’s travel experience. “There is no more noble calling than to help the people of the world live together in peace and understanding with a

There are a plethora of definitions which encompass culture. Dictionary.com Unabridged (2017) defines culture as the quality in a society, or an individual, that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent. Five characteristics of culture may include: a particular form or stage of civilization, the fine arts, scholarly pursuits, etiquette, and/or the drive towards excellence. The author of this essay adds to the definition to include culture in present day as: All interactions between a member of society and society.

Perception of cultures is boundless and the conceptions of cultures are solely encompassed in the eyes of those who behold them. Many construe cultures as being categorized by their basic views of religion, disposal of the dead, hygiene, medical treatment, social interactions, and gender roles, while others believe cultures are defined antagonistically. Though ideas of what embody a culture differ, the creed that culture is diverse and varies internationally through location is comprehensive. A culture’s importance can often times be overlooked, and the Algerian culture is one of these recurrently omitted cultures. Algeria is an Arabic and French speaking, North African country bordering the Mediterranean Sea with several cities of European influence. The country is one of contrast and contradiction through its culture, through things such as language spoken, traditions or beliefs practiced. The culture is heavily influenced by religion with over 99 percent of the population being Sunni Muslims. Algeria is a country of both traditional and modern Muslim cultures. There are often prevalent clashing cultural attributes that are both widely practiced within Algeria. This idea of cultural contrast can be seen in The Plague, written by the influential philosopher, Albert Camus. This philosophical fiction is set in the French-Algerian port city of Oran, sometime in the 1940s, and hosts many cultural aspects that contrast those that are widely practiced in Algeria. The novel

Since not everyone knows these languages, the appearance and different traditional clothes that are unique to each area make it easier to identify all these different people and cultures in Algeria, and which language to use to make communication easier and more flexible. There are 50 different states in Algeria and every single one has its own traditional clothing. That makes the country extremely diverse and

The modernization of the Maghrib was not beneficial to the culture and modernization of North Africa. Although there were benefits relating to the architectural upgrades and the spread of ideas about politics and the modern world, the forcing of the French culture, division between religions, and the external French motivations were overall not beneficial.The Maghrib is a section of North Africa that includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and sometimes parts of Libya. Specifically, Algeria was very important to this region as well as the French who tried to colonize and modernize this region. Along with Tunisia, whose impacts from the French are shown through the travels and experiences of Khayr al Din. Ever since the beginning of the French colonization efforts, the natives of the Maghrib were weary of the concept. The French’ true motivations are evidenced through their new implementation of laws, cultural integration, and disregard for the religious groups of the region.

Culture can be defined in many ways due to the fact that everyone can have their own distinct and traditional beliefs and values. “ Culture is fluid, it is not a static entity which one takes out of the box on occasion. It is with us daily” (Cultural Handout). Someone’s culture is set as the characteristics of the group practices in language, religion, types of food, social traits and habits, and the distinct arts and music. There are a variety of different cultures for example, Western Culture, Eastern Culture, Latin Culture, Middle Eastern Culture, and African Culture. All of these different cultures have their own ideas, values, and individualism, laws that are implied, civil rights, and even technology. In our, “ Culture Handout” culture is defined as the tool of the mind, “ it is an individual’s way seeing and interacting within the world. It encompasses one’s values systems, beliefs, and perceptions of the world around them. Race, socio-economic class gender, sexual orientation, ability, geographic location, age, religion language, etc. all impact the formation of culture, but these various context are not culture” (Cultural Handout).

What is culture? I found this definition very helpful “culture generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance” (Wikipedia.com). My first day on

However, if one considers Algeria’s domestic imperatives, geostrategic considerations, the fast-changing regional and international order, and the country’s foreign policy outlook, then one logically realises that the prevailing geopolitical context in Algeria, starting from the 1990s, necessitated a new foreign policy paradigm; one that adapts to the changing realities without necessarily compromising “the doctrines, principles and practices that drove the foreign policy of the government since independence in 1962” (Boukhars).