Cross cultural values and conflicts Essay

The modern society is made up of different cultures which are constantly interacting with each other. This interaction helps in the enrichment of the society. However, it is also the cause of intercultural tensions that have been witnessed in many countries such as the United States. Intercultural conflicts may take different forms. This might lead to problems in different communities and fuel high levels of hatred and confrontation. It is a known fact that cultures differ from one community to another. There has been increased violence that can be attributed to marginalization and impoverishment of some cultures as compared to others. The other factors that contribute to this are ignorance coupled with prejudice. The result of this is disagreements between different communities, resentment and possibility of uncontrollable violence erupting. These conflicts arise due to opposition of certain cultures and reluctance to accept the diverse cultures of the world. Sources of conflicts Intercultural conflicts can, therefore, be said to be due to three causes. These are: political causes, social causes and economic causes. Political sources may be due to territorial differences that might lead to conflicts between different groups of people or nations. The fight for certain resources in particular regions fall under economic causes of these conflicts. Dispute may sometimes arise regarding the ownership, accessibility to or control of certain resources. These resources might include jobs, contracts, credits or education. Allocation of these resources should be done in a fair manner so that everyone gets an equal share regardless of their cultural backgrounds. The tough economic times and conditions may exacerbate intercultural hostility especially when these are seen to be the key causes of unemployment and degradation of peoples’ welfare (LeBaron and Pillay, p 42). Economic policies that favor certain groups of people or nations and ignoring the disadvantaged ones may hasten these conflicts. Such disadvantaged groups include immigrants and workers who might be looked down upon (LeBaron and Pillay, p 42). Social causes of conflicts might be due to differences in religion and languages. These are cultural issues which should not be taken lightly. For example, a communication barrier as far as language is concerned. This can be seen in institutions regarding the particular language used in the teaching process and examinations. Secondly, language used in the military during command and other government departments for communication. These might cause disparities between people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. It has been established that religion is a major cause of conflict between groups of people (LeBaron and Pillay, p 43). The main cause of social conflicts in the U. S. is immigration and the income levels between the two races (whites and blacks). This also includes the natives and immigrants in the United States as well as the poor and rich people (Morin, para 2). Other factors that may worsen this situation include; potential threats posed by certain groups to the interest of the group considered as the majority. For example, in the United States, most whites see the non white immigrants as criminals who pose a great danger to their families, jobs and institutions. This leads to exclusion of such migrants in certain sectors such as taking up high grade jobs and government positions. It has heightened the levels of discrimination in the United States (Ting-Toomey and Oetzel, p 23). Conclusion There is need for a global approach in finding a lasting solution to this problem. These efforts should be directed towards ending cultural, racial and ethnic conflicts worldwide. It will help in ending xenophobia, racism and racial segregation in the U. S. In doing so, the tension that is usually witnessed between different groups of people will be greatly reduced hence leading to a harmonious society. Despite the fact that conflicts will always arise at times, these should be solved amicably and democratically without bias or favoring any side or group. Works Cited LeBaron, Michelle and Venashri Pillay. Conflict across Cultures. Boston: Intercultural Press, 2006. Morin, Rich. â€Å"What Divides America? † September 24, 2009. August 10th, 2010 Ting-Toomey, Stella and John Oetzel G. Managing Intercultural Conflict Effectively. California: Sage Publications, 2001