Multiculturalism in Australia - Essay Example

Multiculturalism - Advantage and Disadvantage of Doing Business with the Asian Countries - Table of Contents I. Introduction ………………………………………………………….. 3 II. Advantages and Disadvantages of Multiculturalism in Doing Business with Asia …………………………………………… 3 a. Economic Advantages of Multiculturalism in Doing Business with Asia …………………………………. 3 b. Social Advantages of Multiculturalism in Doing Business with Asia ………………………………….. 5 c. Disadvantages of Multiculturalism in Doing Business in Asia ……………………………………... 6 III. Recommended Multicultural Strategies to Australian Government on Export to Asia ……………………………………… 6 IV. Conclusion …………………………………………………………… 8 References …………………………………………………………………. 9 - 10 Introduction Globalization is one major factor that promotes the importance of multiculturalism in Australia as well as in the other countries all over the world. Particularly the geographical location of Australia being so much closer to the Eastern hemisphere enables the country to share similar business practices with the Asian countries. Since Australia shares similar time zones with the Asian countries, Australia needs to maintain a good business relationship with the Asians. In fact, business dealing between Australia and the Asian countries is gradually increasing over the years. Due to globalization, a lot of foreign individuals go to another country for vacation purposes, to look for a better job opportunity, or for permanent residency. In the process, diversity in culture has become a very important subject matter. In line with the study of multiculturalism, the researcher will explain under what circumstances is multiculturalism an advantage and disadvantage in doing business with Asia. At the end of the study, the researcher will recommend some strategies to Australian government on export to Asia. Advantages and Disadvantages of Multiculturalism in Doing Business with Asia Economic Advantages of Multiculturalism in Doing Business with Asia Globalization not only encourages business opportunities but is also considered as a significant factor that encourages and promotes ‘a continuous flow of people, goods, capital, commodities, images, information as well as the spread of technology all over the world.” (Appadurai, 1996; Hannerz, 1992, 1996: 301) Multiculturalism is considered as an essential part of globalization since it enables Australian business people to establish and maintain a good long-term business relationship with the Asian countries. In the end, Australians could enjoy a long list of economic benefits in the process. In general, the practice of multiculturalism is said to be effective in improving the marketing communication of the Chinese and Indians who are residing in Australia. (Zhu, Nel, and Bhat, 2006) By considering the inter-cultural dimension and characteristics of each customer, business people are able to create a stronger buyer-seller relationship. Among the Australian Indians, it is the creation of trust and loyalty between them and the Asian seller(s) which further creates a way to develop future business opportunities. On the other hand, the Australian Chinese develop a close relationship with its Asian suppliers in order for them to be able to be able to end up making a win-win negotiation concerning the price and quality of the products they will purchase. Aside from improving the purchasers’ relationship with the Asian suppliers, multiculturalism also improves the working relationship between Australian business owners and their employed groups of workers in the Asian countries. As a result of implementing multiculturalism within a business institution, a company’s over all business performance and efficiency can be improved. The application of multiculturalism in doing business with Asia particularly in the trading of human power, raw materials, and finished products removes the cultural barriers and racial discrimination between Australia and the Asian countries. International trading is important since it could result to a significant economic advantage on the part of Australia. Aside from the employment migration Australia is receiving each year, a lot of Asian people go to Australia for a permanent migration. (Kaur, 2004: 219) In the process of accepting foreign immigrants who are mostly the business people, the skilled workers, and those talented individuals into the land of Australia, the Australian government and the rest of its local citizens are experiencing economic benefits one way or the other. According to Grieco (2004: 243), the remittances that Australian immigrants send back to their families throughout the rest of the world eases and prevent inflation that may arise due to the possibility of balance of payment problems. During the long period of time wherein a large group migrant stays over the land of Australia creates additional demand for household products. This promotes the local industrial development within the country. For this reason, there is a need for a continuous importation of cheaper goods and raw materials in order for Australian businessmen to create additional finished goods. A significant increase in the demand for goods eventually creates employment opportunities for the Australian local citizens. In other words, multiculturalism hastens the economic activities and keeps the unemployment rate within Australia at a manageable level by removing the possibility of racial discrimination and cultural barriers between Australian and the Asian. Social Advantages of Multiculturalism in Doing Business with Asia Between 1970s – 1980s when Australia was reported to have practiced multiculturalism at its peak. (Patience, 2005) This was the time period when the country was reported to have the lowest incidence of an inter-ethnic or inter-racial violence. Since Australia has a very low incidence of inter-racial crimes or reported violence, the close inter-racial links is considered to be one of the main factors that cause smooth business activities in Australia. Australia being known to have a very low inter-ethnic and inter-racial violence could build a positive impression to the Asians businessmen. Unconsciously, such outstanding publicity could enable the Australians to easily encourage the Asian business people to make a business deal with them. Disadvantages of Multiculturalism in Doing Business in Asia However, there are few disadvantages of multiculturalism in doing business in Asia. The practice of multiculturalism in doing business in Asia alone could create some economic or financial difficulties among some of the existing local manufacturing companies. Since there is an educational discrepancy between the rich and the poor, a wider distribution of wealth will become more evident in the Asian countries. Considering that the uneducated individuals will not be able to do a skilled job, a lot of the uneducated individuals will remain jobless. In the end, the rich will become richer and the poor will become poorer. Due to poverty, there is a higher chance that the Asian countries may experience social difficulties and a great disruption of peace among other people. The increase in poverty rate among the developing countries such as in the Philippines and Thailand could lead to a serious health concerns such as the spread of HIV / AIDS through prostitution. (Novero, 2005) A negatively publicity related to a wide spread of HIV / AIDS could directly affect the business activities in Asia until such health concern are properly take care of. Recommended Multicultural Strategies to Australian Government on Export to Asia The Australian government should be able to adopt multiculturalism in dealing with the local government officials in Asian countries. By developing a strong relationship with the government of an Asian country, it would be easier for Australian government to export its products and services to the Asian countries. Australian government should also focus on rebuilding Australia’s export culture including the export related skills of Australian work force such as the local exporters’ and manufacturers’ knowledge on e-commerce. (Australian Labor Party, 2007) The government should implement a continuous innovation of new techniques through research and development as well as in constructing enough infrastructures to encourage a smooth flow of commodities from different local manufacturers to the Australia’s different export zones. According to James Wolfensohn (2007), Australian school and universities should be required to teach the students with different Asian languages, history, and other Asian business ethics and culture as well as other related courses as a preparation for future economic benefits of Australia. (Lunn, 2007) Teaching the Australian students to speak Asian language could create a close ties with its neighboring Asian countries. On the other hand, failure to do so could only widen the business dealings gap between the Australians with the Asian business people. For this reason, the Australian government and the Department of Education is very much concern with the decreased capabilities of the Australian high school graduates in speaking a foreign language. (Mercer, 2007) For this reason, learning the Asian culture is very much considered as Australian’s competitive advantage in terms of promoting export to Asian countries. (Jimenez, 2006) Conclusion Multiculturalism is an important component of globalization. In the absence of practicing multiculturalism, it would not be easy for Australian business people to make a business deal with the Asian businessmen. Considering that the Asian business particularly in China has become very promising in terms of being able to deliver good quality products at a very affordable price, Australia will be losing a good business opportunity in case Australians are not able to successfully close a business deal with China. Among the major benefits of multiculturalism heavily focused on making the Australian economy better. Since the practice of multiculturalism could effectively create a positive long-term business relationship with the Asian people, Australian businessmen will have better opportunity to learn good profitability. The only disadvantage with the practice of multiculturalism in doing business with the Asian countries is the fact that the unskilled workers may not be able to qualify for a competitive job. In the end, unequal distribution of wealth among the Asians people will be evident. Thus, poverty rate in Asian countries is likely to increase. The Australian government should focus on rebuilding Australia’s export culture including the export related skills of Australian work force such as the local exporters’ and manufacturers’ knowledge on e-commerce. Focusing the government’s attention in the promotion of multiculturalism could enable the future Australian generation to have a competitive advantage in terms of its export activities. *** End *** References: 1 Australian Labor Party (2007) ‘Chapter Three – Engaging with the Global Economy’ Official Website of the Australian Labor Party. < http://www.alp.org.au/ > 2 Appadurai, A. (1996) ‘Modernity at Large Cultural Dimensions of Globalization’ in Siebers, Hans (Eds.) ‘The Management of Multiculturalism: Coming to Terms with the Multiplication of Experienced Difference’ International Journal on Multicultural Societies (IJMS). 2004;6(2):300 – 321. 3 Grieco, Elizabeth M. (2004) ‘Will Migrant Remittance Continue through Time? A New Answer to an Old Question’ International Journal on Multicultural Societies (IJMS). 2004;6(2):243 – 252. 4 Hannerz, U. (1996) ‘Transnational Connections, Culture, People, Places’ in Siebers, Hans (Eds.) ‘The Management of Multiculturalism: Coming to Terms with the Multiplication of Experienced Difference’ International Journal on Multicultural Societies (IJMS). 2004;6(2):300 – 321. 5 Hannerz, U. (1992) ‘Cultural Complexity: Studies in the Social Organization of Meaning’ in Siebers, Hans (Eds.) ‘The Management of Multiculturalism: Coming to Terms with the Multiplication of Experienced Difference’ International Journal on Multicultural Societies (IJMS). 2004;6(2):300 – 321. 6 Jimenez, Katherine (2006) ‘Culture the Key to Asia: Hornery’ The Australian Business. September 18, 2006. < http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/ > 7 Kaur, Amarjit (2004) ‘Crossing Frontiers: Race, Migration and Border Control in Southeast Asia’ International Journal on Multicultural Societies (IJMS). 2004;6(2):202 – 223. 8 Lunn, Stephen (2007) ‘Call to Put Asia Back on the Syllabus’ The Australian. March 8, 2007. < http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/ > 9 Mercer, Phil (2007) ‘Asian Language Crisis Grips Australia’ VOA News. August 16, 2007 < http://www.voanews.com/ > 10 Novero, Tina R. (2005) ‘The Wealth and Poverty of Sex Work: Thailand and Philippines’ The International Relations Journal. 2005: 4. 11 Patience, Allan (2005) ‘Bring back the politics of race harmony - Opinion - theage.com.au’ The Age. December 20, 2005. < http://www.theage.com.au/ > 12 Zhu Yunxia, Nel Pieter and Bhat Ravi (2006) ‘Center for Immigration Studies’ International Journal of Cross Cultural Management. 2006. 6(3):319 – 341. Read More