Cultural Diversity in the Public Sector - Research Paper Example

?When Clyde Kluckhohn and Alfred Kroeber’s book Culture: ‘A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions’ was published in 1978, immense conflict rosedue to the 164 definitions of culture which were brought together by them. These definitions differed from each other on literary and historical basis. Not that the phrase ‘culture’ was not clarified, but ambiguities and dissimilar opinions began to turn up. It was in the year 1980, when Rappaport defined culture as “…a part of the distinctive means by which a local population maintains itself in an ecosystem and by which a regional population maintains and coordinates its groups and distributes them over the available land.” (233) Now that we have been provided with a verified characterization of culture, the question that still arises is “What does culture mean to US?” Everybody might have dissimilar responses, but collectively, the norms and traditions of living which have been passed down by our ancestors form our culture. When studying Sociology we can perceive that the term culture holds grand importance when referring to the society and its nature. Hence, the cultural nature of the society can be understood by studying its relation with the individuals who form it. What is ‘cultural diversity’ or ‘cultural disparity’? Being an aggregate, it would be difficult for any society to grasp the answer, because when a mass of individuals (dependant/ independent) join together there ought to be a discrepancy in the outlook and beliefs, but if we review the previous expression we can discern that it itself is the answer to the former question. Therefore, culture diversity can be characterized as ‘the state of sheer conflict amongst different (sub) cultures of a civilization on the basis of language, customs, beliefs, ideas, norms and values. Cultural disparity is also known as racial or ethnic disparity. The two basic ingredients which shape a society and its components include the government (which wheels the societal set up and management) and the public sector (which practices the system provided by the regime). Hence, when people belonging to various cultural backgrounds begin holding and practicing their very own cultural ideals and become badly informed of the reciprocal correspondence they have with other people, within the society and the organism of government, cultural diversity is at its dawn and it widens. For this reason, Stephen Tierney has also named this dilemma as ‘Multiculturalism’ or ‘Cultural Pluralism’ as he explains that the common factor which the struggles of this problem have is that ‘they reject earlier models of unitary, homogenous nation-state.’ (17) To understand the validity of cultural diversity in the public sector, we better comprehend the relationship between culture and the public sector, foremost. Culture and the public sector share a reciprocal relationship. This give-and-take relationship works with the mechanism that when a cultural reform or change is brought in the society, the rate of acceptance of change increases whereas when a cultural conflict begins to grow the pace of keenness and deliberateness decreases in the society and an unrest is up heaved in all aspects of the society i.e. economic, political, religious and most importantly institutional. “Culture is the product of learning, rather than of heredity”, says George Peter Murdock (113). Therefore, the problem of cultural diversity depends majorly on the fact how the society adapts to it and how it demands its solution, as this problem is not only developed by the socio cultural conflict but also due to many other un-proportionate reasons. This may or may not include the institutional environment, social stratification, political set up also the intra-cooperation techniques and many other facets to be laid. Cultural diversity leads a society towards havoc and devastation as it causes extreme unrest in the public sector. Following are the effects and their details, of cultural diversity on a society 1) Lack of communication and illiteracy: These are the major effects of cultural diversity on the public sector. As the literacy rate of many areas of different countries is very low, it results in the inadequacy of the standards of living due to which people are unable to communicate and are ignorant of what is going on around them and this impacts the environment. Hence, the organizational respect of different cultures becomes unfeasible as people are too ill-bred to look out of their personal beliefs and values. 2) Provincialism and deficiency of promoted values: Many countries have counties and provinces. A large number of these areas lack promotion of different social, economic and moral values. Therefore, it is difficult for the people of these areas to accept the blending of other cultures and beliefs into theirs. 3) Lack of national and central ideology: In many countries politics is used as a game to hoard as much money and self interest as possible. This results in the lack of national or central ideology amongst both the public sector as well as the government quarter. Such countries are a foremost victim of cultural diversity as neither the government nor the people care for cross cultural peace or acceptance. 4) Conflict between political parties: As mentioned before the government which is composed of different political groups and subgroups, is so busy in fulfilling its own aspirations that it forgets the people’s interests and starts to develop conflict with other political parties, which results in cultural diversity as the importance of equality and mutual development and peace is forgotten. 5) Role of government in terrorism and violence: After a detailed clarification from the above passages we can make a note of the fact that the government plays a vital role in any problem which arises in the public sector regardless of the fact whether the government itself is or isn’t responsible for it. Cultural diversity is also spreading due to terrorism and violence, as people migrate from one place to another for better atmosphere. These problems are to be solved internationally by the systems of organizations. When specified groups of people try to create unrest amongst various cultural ethnicities of the world, cultural diversity spreads like an epidemic because then people start to think of each others as off-putting value promoters and ‘terrorists’. 6) Lack of proper infra-structure and backwardness: All of the above given points are interlinked with each other. Poor infra structure in backward areas is also the result of cultural diversity which leads toward social disorganization. People are unable to move outside of their small towns and communicate, due to which they are frustrated and a sense of hatred is produced amongst them for the people with better opportunities in developed areas. As a result of which they do not cooperate with them and turn against them. On the other hand people of developed areas tag this behavior as ‘anti-socialist activity, therefore both of these groups centralize culture as a mode of inconvenience. This is where the government works! 7) Social stratification and negative role of mass media: With the passage of time the issue of social stratification keeps on increasing. People are divided into classes on the basis of their wealth and riches. “It’s difficult to spend the amount of time necessary to understand why or in what different ways people behave. So instead, we learn early in our lives to accept stereotypes of groups, or individuals” (All About Counseling). The mass media demonstrates this and spreads it after which people consequently develop the idea that they are being looked down upon due to their cultural background. Cultural diversity affects all parts of the society. It is like an epidemic which spreads from person to person and has to be cured. Many theories say that culture diversity is the organized respect of cultures for each other. But this is more of a delusion and less of an actuality. Cultural diversity affects following zones of the world: 1) Effects on the society: As we are all aware that any organized group of people living together to utilize the same resources form a society. It is obvious that in any society people may belong to different cultures and civilizations. Hence, when cultural diversity spreads this social organization is completely destroyed. 2) Effects on economy: The economy fluctuates with the above mentioned process. 3) Effects on culture itself: The 18th and the 19th were the centuries when people would refer to culture as one of their most preciously inherited assets. But these days there are so many cultural divisions in the world and people brawl on the name of culture, that culture itself is lacking the required importance and concentration. 4) Effects on the environment: Due to culture diversity not only the human beings are disturbed but also the entire environment is at a state of unrest and turbulence. There was a time when one would wake up to the sound of the birds chirping and the green leaves twinkling. But now, the chirping and the twinkling corrodes in front of the humanity, because everyone wants a different way of chirp and twinkle. Talk about cultural diversity! 5) Effects on institutions: The basic institutions of any society include; religious institutions, economic institutions, recreational institutions and most importantly educational institutions. When people of different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities join together and communicate in the above provided institutions, not only do they affect their entire way of mechanism, but they also determine the way it works. Whereas, it is said that cultural diversity is indispensable for the survival of any society or civilization. This contrary view is held on the basis that cultural diversity saves the planet by preserving different cultures of the world. So is it a problem? Or, is it more of a dilemma? So, how does the government help in straightening the problematic results of cultural diversity in the public sector? In fact, the government can easily settle down the issues caused by cultural diversity and rather install the really meaning of cultural multiplicity in a society i.e. different cultures respecting each other’s values and beliefs in an organized unit. The ‘Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity’ announced in the Article 1 that “cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature”. It is accurate though but stimulating. The following steps can be taken by the government to reinforce cross cultural respect and reverence, which is the true visage of the term ‘Cultural Diversity’: 1) Equal distribution of knowledge: Knowledge shall be equally distributed, for which the government shall establish educational institutions in backward areas so that every person gets an equal opportunity to know and acknowledge. 2) Promotion of quota system: According to the quota system, every job opportunity shall provide a reserved number of seats for people of different cultural backgrounds. This system shall be promoted and implemented by the government so that everyone gets an equal prospect to work and prosper. 3) Cultural shows: Cultural demonstrations should be organized so that people shall know what other cultures preach and promote. Also to remove any sorts of ambiguities regarding other traditions. This step, if taken can result in positive attitudes of people all around the world toward the vast spreading cultures and ethnicities, for better. 4) Cultural awareness and moral values: To promote cultural awareness and moral values the government shall distribute and display pamphlets and banners, so that it may at least gain the attention of the people. Also this can be a source of inspiration and guidance for people with erroneous concepts regarding standards and viewpoint of other cultures. 5) Inclusion in curriculum: In the educational sector the government shall include cultural and religious education as mandatory for the students. This can be done by including books and documents to be studied by students about various cultures and traditions in their curriculum. Also, the government shall hire teachers with higher levels of knowledge in cultural studies, so that the students may benefit if they want to. 6) Promotion and protection of regional languages: All sorts of languages shall be promoted and taught. As Donall O Riagain says “It is, therefore, quite fitting to consider the legal challenges and opportunities facing the implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML), the world’s first treaty aimed specifically at protecting and, more importantly, promoting languages such as Welsh” (25, 26). This now shows and represents the importance of language for any society which directly secures cultural diversity and cultural disparity. 7) Elimination of racism: Racism means practicing racial discrimination, which diminishes the value of cultural diversity and chucks all the effort to establish a peaceful society. To establish an anti racist society the government shall supply equity to its citizens. To do so it shall provide equal job opportunities, it shall distribute equal wealth; it shall eliminate corruption and all sorts of vices. But in this process of making things better the government needs the help of the public and the media as well, for which it has to prove itself worthy of gaining the trust of the people. Hence we have to deal with racism before it corners us. As Anne Marie Aikins says “Everyone deserves to be accepted as the person they are, not just as a member of a certain group.” (3) After the above steps are taken cultural diversity will take a turn towards the path of success and prosperity. This means that a conflict free society can be maintained. The public sector can benefit from cultural diversity only when it promises a positive turn out rather than devastation. When people will subsist together and understand what other cultures advocate they will automatically confront the fact that no culture preaches ghastly. Hence, they will respect each other’s cultural values. After which an organized and peaceful atmosphere will be established and no human being will feel endangered. People feel confident when they know that their fellow human beings trust what they practice and they return the favor. But to create this scenario it is necessary that the three tier set up shall work with cooperation i.e. the government, the public sector and the mass media. Once they are in accordance with each other, they will make the entire task of converting cultural diversity from a negative to encouraging portion, much easier. Different cultures, religions, geographies, demographics remained existent in all civilizations. History is evident that those nations that maintained an equilibrium society status by applying integration, in all these diversified areas, prospered. Thus, integration is the key. Works Cited Aikins, Anne Marie, and Steven Murray. Racism: Deal With It Before It Gets Under Your Skin. Canada: Lorimer, 2004. Print. All About Counseling. “Cultural Issues.” 1998. Web. 30 June 2010 Online Kroeber, Alfred Louis, and Clyde Kluckhohn. Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions. New York: Kraus Reprint, 1978. Print. Murdock, George Peter. Culture and Society: Twenty-Four Essays. Pittsburgh: Library of Congress Online Catalog, 1965. Print Riagain, Donall O. The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages: Legal Challenges and Opportunities. Strasbourg: Council of Europe, 2008. Print. Tierney, Stephen. Accommodating Cultural Diversity (Applied Legal Philosophy). England: Ashgate, 2007. Print. United Nations. General Conference. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. United Nations, 2001. Print. Read More