Social, Political, Cultural, and Economic Systems of India - Assignment Example

SOCIAL, POLITICAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS OF INDIA Prepared for The American Technology Company Prepared by May 4, INTRODUCTION India has a promising economy due to its rising middle-class and vibrant industries (“India”). American companies are interested in investing on India because it is a rich source of consumer and employee markets (“India”). These companies must know more about India’s systems to determine proper market entry and business strategies. The paper describes India’s social, political, cultural, and economic systems. It included information from interviews with two international students, Mitali Bhatti (female, 19 years old) and Prakasj Dasgupta (male, 20 years old). They came to the United States two years ago. SOCIAL CUSTOMS In India, people react to strangers in different ways. Some Indians simply look at strangers, others smile, while others pretend to not care, but they surely notice foreigners around them (Bhatti). If someone is staring, the stranger can smile politely. Indians often return the smile (Bhatti). In terms of greeting, saying “Namaste” is the traditional greeting (“India Customs”). During this greeting, the person presses his/her hands together, with his/her fingers facing up and near the chin (“India Customs”). When addressing superiors or older people, a slight bow is added (“India Customs”). One must greet the most senior person or the eldest first always (“India Customs”). When entering a room, a nod and saying “Namaste” can suffice (“India Customs”). Males, especially strangers, do not touch women in public, including shaking their hands (“India Customs”). For communication practices, excessive gestures and verbal expression are considered impolite, especially when coming from strangers (Dasgupta). It is also acceptable to be late by 15 to 30 minutes because American punctuality is not widely practiced in many areas, unless for businesses who have embraced American customs (Dasgupta). In addition, when invited to an Indian family house for lunch or dinner, the invited person must bring a gift, such as a box of chocolates or flowers (Dasgupta). However, since different flowers have different meanings, it is important to ask the florist about appropriate flowers to be brought to families (Dasgupta). Furthermore, the gesture for “yes” is a slight nod of the head, while “no” is a turning from side to side. Some foreigners do not easily see the difference between the gestures for “yes” and “no,” probably because Indians do not like saying “no” out of respect (Dasgupta). Greeting a person depends on his/her social status, wherein age, university education, caste level, and profession/job affect the latter. Government employees are considered as having more social status than those engaged in private businesses (Dasgupta). Using professional titles is practiced in India, including the last name of the person (“India – Language”). If someone does not have a professional title, the greeter must use “Sir” or “Madam” (“India – Language”). When shaking hands, guests must use the right hand always (“India – Language”). FAMILY LIFE Many homes, especially in rural places, are organized as extended families. Children support their parents until old age and death (Dasgupta). The leader of the family is the father, followed by his sons (“India – Language”). In addition, people see themselves as being parts of their groups more than as individuals (“India – Language”). In other words, India is a high-context culture with its collectivistic values (“India – Language”). Indians find it essential to maintain close family ties, including bonds with the extended family (“India – Language”). The extended family has numerous interrelationships, rules, and systems that affect family life (“India – Language”). In many Indian households, women stay in the kitchen. They perform traditional female roles, such as cooking, cleaning the house, washing dishes and clothes, and caring for family members (“India – Language”). They appreciate if the food they serve is praised (“India – Language”). Some more modern households have higher respect for women. Several businesses are even passed on to women because sons prefer to do other jobs (Bhatti). HOUSING, CLOTHING, AND FOOD One’s house is a symbol of one’s social status (Mehta). The caste system influences the distribution and quality of housing in India. Segregated housing is common, wherein upper castes live in better areas, such as rich urban and rural areas, while lower castes are in the peripheries of the villages (Mehta). These peripheral areas are low-lying and lack access to hygienic facilities (Mehta). Clothing depends on the occasion and the status of the wearer. Indian clothing consists of colorful silk saris for Indian women and the traditional dhoti for men. Dhoti is an unstitched portion of cloth that is tied around the waist and legs (“India – Language”). Men also don a kurta, a loose shirt that is knee-length (“India – Language”). For special occasions, men put on a sherwani, which is a long coat that has buttons from the collar to the knees (“India – Language”). The Nehru jacket is a shorter adaptation of a sherwani (“India – Language”). As for business attire, Indians prefer conservative styles. Men should wear dark-colored conservative business suits, while women ought to wear conservative suits or dresses (“India – Language”). Indians entertain in their homes or public venues, depending on occasions and conditions. Indians are not always punctual, but sometimes, they may expect foreigners to arrive on time for business occasions (“India – Language”). Guests must take off their shoes before entering houses (“India – Language”). They must politely turn down the first offer of tea or snacks because this is part of Indian etiquette (“India – Language”). They can accept these offers the second or third time (“India – Language”). In India, several groups have dietary restrictions. Hindus and Sikhs do not eat beef and many are vegetarians (“India – Language”). Muslims do not eat pork and do not drink alcohol (“India – Language”). The main courses of meals are lamb, chicken, and fish (“India – Language”). The formality of table manners depends on religious beliefs and social customs, but they are generally formal. Indians usually eat with their fingers and would not mind if guests eat the same way (“India – Language”). Guests must also wait to be seated because some sitting positions are reserved for senior members of the family (“India – Language”). Indians serve guests in a particular manner: They serve the guest of honor first, and then men and women, while children are served last (“India – Language”). Guests must always use the right hand to eat (“India – Language”). They must leave a small amount of food to indicate satisfaction because finishing everything will suggest that one is still hungry and wants another serving (“India – Language”). POLITICAL PATTERNS India has a federal republic form of government. The chief of state is President Pranab Mukherjee (since 2012), while the head of the government is Prime Minister Narendra Modi (since 2014). The cabinet is composed of the Union Council of Ministers that the president recommends. The prime minister recommends the members of the cabinet to the president (“India”). An electoral college, composed of elected members of Parliament and legislatures of the state, elects the president (“India”). The two houses of Parliament elect the vice president (“India”). As for regional conflicts, India has some issues with China and Pakistan because of territorial and political issues. India asserts that China moved missiles to Pakistan (“India”). India and Pakistan also have a strained relationship because of their historical disputes, including water-sharing of the Indus River and tributaries (“India”). In addition, India does not recognize Pakistans giving of the historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964 (“India”). India also has internal conflicts because of different religious/cultural groups that clash with one another (“India”). RELIGIOUS AND FOLK BELIEFS India is the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism, the third and fourth dominant religions in the world (Zimmermann). Around 84 percent of the population say that they are Hindu, followed by 13% of Muslims, 2.3% Christians, and 1.9% Sikhs (“India”). Guests should respect all religious figures and symbols by not touching them with their hands or feet (“India – Language”). Guests must also not disrespect cows that are sacred animals for Hindus. CLASS STRUCTURE India has already abolished the caste system because it spreads social inequality, but it continues to exist. Caste has strong cultural and religious roots in Brahmanism and Hinduism (Roy 207). The British administration reinforced the caste because it was easier to exploit for their capitalist intentions (Roy 207). The caste has four groups or varnas: Brahmins (priests and rulers), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders) and Shudras (laborers). The Dalits or untouchables are excluded from the system (Roy 207). The Dalits are ostracized by their communities and are given the lowest social status (Roy 207). ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS India seeks to be an increasingly open-market economy (“India”). It has pursued economic liberalization measures since the 1990s (“India”). The economic growth rate of India is around 7% per year from 1997 to 2011 (“India”). GDP is composed of the following: 17.9% agriculture, 24.2% industry, and 57.9% services (“India”). The main agricultural products are rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, tea, and dairy products, among others, while the primary industries are textile, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation, cement, mining, software, and pharmaceutical industries (“India”). The economic outlook for India is moderately positive but it has socio-economic issues that it needs to address (“India”). India has a young, educated population, and many are successful in steel, transportation, software, and pharmaceutical industries (“India”). India also has healthy savings and investment rates (“India”). Nevertheless, it faces the problems that other developing countries also have: poverty, corruption, gender inequality, social stratification, inefficient power generation and distribution system, deficient access to basic and higher education, insufficient transport and agricultural infrastructure, and limited non-farming job opportunities (“India”). Investors’ perceptions of India are improving, nevertheless, because of the country’s lower account deficit and post-election economic expectations (“India”). VALUE SYSTEMS Religion and social class affect the value systems in India. Cooperation is more valued, but competitiveness is also welcome, especially for educated entrepreneurs because they know that it will be a driver for continued pursuit of excellence (Dasgupta). Thrift is an important virtue too, but many young white-collar workers and business people also like enjoying the moment, through buying luxury goods (Dasgupta). In addition, politeness is more important than honesty. Many Indians, because of their high-context culture, believe that saying “no” is impolite and disrespectful (“India – Language”). They value their “face” and the faces of their family, friends, co-workers, and superiors enough to not say “no” verbally (“India – Language”). They can be vague in their words, but their non-verbal behaviors and social customs will reveal if they are saying “no” to others (“India – Language”). As for education, Indians regard education highly, which shows in their respect for professionals (Roy 35). Children of the middle class are often sent to college, even abroad (Roy 35). The upper class would send their children to study in universities in the United States, although some communities save money to send their children to prestigious universities in developing nations, such as the Philippines (Dasgupta). As in many patriarchal, conservative societies, access to education is given more to boys than girls (Dasgupta). Women have lower social status, although they have higher social acceptance in middle and upper classes (Dasgupta). Many women are also handling businesses successfully (Bhatti). Indians have different perceptions of Americans. Some would say Americans are rude or arrogant because of their direct ways of expressing themselves and their insensitivity at times to other people’s feelings (Bhatti). International students from India would like to think that Americans can make their cultural adaptation easier if they also considered the high-context culture of Indians (Bhatti; Dasgupta). Nevertheless, Indians are aware that they the visitors of the U.S., so they must also learn to adapt to American customs and practices CONCLUSION India is a promising nation that has a bright economic outlook. It has a high-context culture that will affect communication and business strategies and practices. It has a strong family system, though it is plagued with its caste that it seeks to abolish. Companies should invest in India because of its rich human and natural resources. Works Cited Bhatti, Mitali. Personal Interview. 2 May 2015. Dasgupta, Prakash. Personal Interview. 1 May 2015. “India.” World Factbook, 1 May 2015. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 1 May 2015. “India Customs.” Army Logistics University, 2015. Web. 1 May 2015. . “India - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette.” Kwintessential, 2015. Web. 1 May 2015. . Mehta, Pooja. “Housing – Meaning, Role and Magnitude of Housing Problem in India.” Economics Discussion, 2015. Web. 1 May 2015. . Roy, Shefali. Society and Politics in India: Understanding Political Sociology. New Delhi: PHI, 2014. Print. Zimmermann, Kim Ann. “Indian Culture: Traditions and Customs of India.” Live Science, 30 Jan. 2015. Web. 1 May 2015. . Read More