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Introduction
The wide range of cultural differences in customs and traditions creates a significant barrier to international cultural awareness. Failure to understand one anothers cultures and the roots of their customs is the fundamental barrier to global cultural flow since it increases prejudice and hostility. The inability to communicate effectively is another significant obstacle between cultures (Shonk, 2022). Cultures are also separated by ideological disputes resulting from distinct economic, political, religious, and social systems (Shonk, 2022). Therefore, ethnocentrism, language barriers, poor international cooperation, and conflicting values are hindrances to global cultural flow.
Ethnocentrism
Global cultural flow involves the reallocation of different ideas, artifacts, and human beings in a wide sphere resulting from globalization. The barriers to the effective exchange of ideas are ethnocentrism which focuses on implicitly affecting diversity. The tendency to focus on an individuals world as an ideal without considering what other cultures have to offer is ethnocentrism (Shonk, 2022). This bias results in restricted access and sharing of ideas from one ethnic group to another resulting in a restricted cultural flow. An example is stereotyping, which relies on exaggerating the oversimplified theories about people from different communities by mastering their weaknesses (Shonk, 2022). Such behaviors make people defensive to protect their culture, affecting the information flow.
Language Barriers
Communication breakdowns can lead to misunderstanding of specific traditional concepts or artworks of a community. Lack of contact at different levels of interaction aggravates a general misunderstanding of a particular culture. Language plays a significant role in understanding the superficial indicators of a specific community which helps promote mutual understanding (Shonk, 2022). For instance, community songs have special meaning to the people of a particular group, and the misinterpretation of that specific artwork may result in distorted understanding, negatively influencing the cultural flow.
Poor International Cooperation
Another significant barrier is poor international cooperation which results from ideological conflicts. Different economic, political, and religious systems divide cultures by promoting the idea of superiority. For instance, conservative cultures may fight to show dominance in their ethical considerations, such as respect for the old and young, unlike the conventional, which results in restricted cultural flow within the international space (Shonk, 2022). Such ideas lead to the glorification of some cultures and the ignorance of others.
Conflicting Values
Culture reflects a particular community since it encompasses behaviors, values, and principles upheld by specific people when interacting with others. However, the diverse theories in each culture result in conflicting values, hindering effective interactions and understanding of particular phenomena (Shonk, 2022). For instance, egalitarian communities tend to be expressive in their opinions and cultural values, which can be considered daring or disrespectful for those belonging to hierarchical cultures (Shonk, 2022). All these differences create a barrier to accepting cultures from different communities, affecting the flow.
Conclusion
Various issues can affect the global cultural flow, including ethnocentrism, language barriers, poor international cooperation, and conflicting values. All these factors are influenced by the diverse nature of cultures, making people uphold specific principles that may not be necessary for some communities. For example, cultural superiority is one issue that creates bias considering that people defend what they consider ethical. Another issue is language barriers, which can distort information shared in an intercultural setting, resulting in discrimination. Additionally, poor international relations steered by different political or religious ideologies can foster prejudice which makes sharing information among other people challenging. Therefore, these interactional barriers affect the understanding of specific cultures resulting in a restricted global cultural flow.
Reference
Shonk, K. (2022). How to resolve cultural conflict: Overcoming cultural barriers at the negotiation table. Harvard Law School. Web.
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