Understanding Global Cultures China, Singapore, India Chapters 26-28

Understanding Global CulturesChina, Singapore, IndiaChapters 26-28Brynn Cauffman, Spencer Cox, Taryn Crews, Michael Grizzle, Hannah Ives, Tina Roren, Yesenia Saldivar ChinaMing-Jer Chen (2001, p.19)One of the most famous sites on the campus of Tianjin University is a stone engraved with a copy of the very first diploma. Next to the date on the diploma, 1900, the graduates name is printed, along with the names of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. The diploma speaks volumes about the strength of family tradition in Chinese society. Like any individual in Chinese society, the graduate exists primarily in the context of his family. His achievements belong to them all.

The Chinese Family AltarTraditional Buddhist TemplesDifferent images of the BuddhaFierce-looking WarriorsRough-looking beards and mustaches, and the carry large swordsGLOBE studyHave demonstrated, it is possible to cluster countries into groups that are similar to one another in terms of language, religion, and geographical closeness

The Importance of FamilyThe Family AltarNo equivalent word for privacyStress the importance of the group rather than the individualThe word IHas a negative connotation

The Importance of FamilyThe specific aspects of the altar are:Roundness, symbolizing the continuity and structural completeness of the familyHarmony within the family and the broader societyFluidity or the capacity to change while maintaining solid traditions

The Expatriate ChineseThe Chinese expatriateFaced discrimination and resentment in Indonesia and MalaysiaIndonesian GovernmentAssumed control of major Chinese companies valued in the billionsIn MalaysiaChinese cannot be the CEO of a company seeking government contractsHong KongHong Kong95% of whose citizens are Chinese, population of 7.1 million, and occupies only a small area of 412 square milesDue to increased success of businesses executives were forced to build vertical factories housed in tall buildings

RoundnessThe Altar Is the ties that bind a dispersed family and serves as a focal point for viewing an extended family as including the living, the dead, and those as yet unborn.Very helpful in providing insight into the values, attitudes, and behaviors of the Chinese today, wherever they may live.

The Role of WomenProblems with roundness.Cant bear childrenChinese LawPremature deathInequality of SexesPolygamyChinese BusinessLimited GrowthNon-family members

Looking at the Long TermLong-term perspective10, 20, 100-year incrementsConfucian DynamicLong-term orientationProtestant ethicLouis KraarSystem of Bao-JiaArranged by neighborhoods & districtsUnit Leaders

Chinese Practice of GuanxiA person exists only in relation to others.Layers of GuanxiPeople and ancestorsPeople from the same villageMembers of the familyFamily and close associatesContracts in Chinese CultureChinese and the use of banks

The Modern BusinessmanSpacemenWorking with non-Chinese businessmenGuanxi LimitationsDeveloped slowlyExcludes individuals who provide new business opportunitiesAt odds with the contract-based business

HarmonySecond Characteristic of the family altarThe Japanese GardenHarmonious FamilyMost common prayerChinese belief in luck and fate

FluidityThird characteristic of the family altarCapacity to change while maintaining solid traditions.Reflects the Chinese relation-orientationInnovative and EntrepreneurialScience and Civilization in ChinaPrayer to gods and goddesses

The History of ChinaRoundnessHan= the largest cultural groupHarmony400 ethnic groupsFluidityDynasties in Chinese historyEndless cycle of renewal and decline

SingaporeInteresting FactsPopulation of 4.3 millionPopulation density of 6,729 (U.S- 32)Very poor country 50 years ago however now is the leading banking and finance center GDP of $24,840, 29th in the worldOne of the worlds most prosperous countriesWorlds busiest portPeople usually see Singapore as a very friendly country and have a positive experience upon visiting

Hawker CenterVenue with wide variety of traditional ethnic foodsEach center is a collection of at least 20 food stalls at the same locationCasual/ informal atmosphere Unique aspect of Singapores culture

Origins of the Hawker CentersIn the 1950s and 1960s the centers were operating under unhygienic conditionsLack of piped water and cook stationsGovernment developed a plan to build designated areas for hawkersCensus in 1968 and 1969 registered 18,000 street hawkersHawking licenses eliminated illegal hawking

Origins of the Hawker CentersIn 1970 government began to relocate street hawkersNew centers equipped with proper facilities for cooking and efficient drainage systemsBy February 1986 all street hawkers were completely relocatedIn 2000 there were 139 centers with 17,331 stallsIn 2007 there were 113 centers with 6,000 cooked food stallsAll centers are licensed by the ENV

Singapores HistoryModern Singapore began in 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles claimed the islandIn 1832 Singapore was established as the Straits Settlement and became as separate British crown colony in 1867During WWII the Japanese occupied the nation and renamed Syonan-to (Light of the Island)In 1946 Singapore became a British crown colonyIn 1963 Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo formed Malaysia

Singapores HistoryIn 1965 Singapore became an independent nation Singapore initiated a massive industrialization project of economic restructuring Confucian ideals employed by Chinese

Ethnic Diversity But UnityHawker Centers have Chinese, Malay, Peranakan, Indian and international foodGovernment encourages ethnic groups to intermingleStall holders have to work together and behave responsibly

Shared Values ProgramNation before community and society before selfFamily as the basic unit of society Community support and respect for the individual Consensus, not conflictionRacial and religions harmony

Singapores History Local term Kiasu-nessSinglish miss of English and common Chinese phrases Military training contributes to cooperation among different races Educational system also focuses on cooperation among the different races

Efficiency1 unspoken rule at a hawker center: be quick and efficient Customers only have a few seconds to order their food Meaningless conversation is left out Tendency of Singaporeans to make conversation is to be short and efficient Singapore has advanced technologies in finance and transportation systems

EfficiencyPublic buses: light turn green for them during rush hoursSingaporeans deemphasize leisure due to their efficiency & productivity Birth rate = 1.4 babies per woman Estimated 1/3 of Singapore's population will be 60 or over by 2030Social Development Unit = a department created by the government Encourages college graduates to marryCalled single, desperate, and ugly department

Power of WomenNumber of men and women working at a hawker center have similar positions with equally long hours Women frequently occupy the upper hierarchyIn comparison with other Asian countries, Singapores views equality for women Women have become CEOs, ambassadors, and leaders of major companies

SafetyLarge number of rules compared to other countries Many youths feel stymied because of the number of rules Fines for littering (1st time offenders are fined 1,000 Singapore dollars)Death penalty is standard for drug trafficking ranging from 15g of heroin to 1.2kg of opium No homeless people in SingaporeSafetyInternal Security Act (ISA) lets official detain people without trial Prostitution in better sections of the city in Singapore The government is paternalistic and in all-providing authorityHawker centers are safe places and usually open 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekLow crime rate compared to neighboring nations

Synthesizing Traditional and New ValuesHawker centers sell traditional Southeast Asian food as well, as newer Western food All three ethnic groups (Chinese, Malays, and Indian) celebrate major festivals Government has decreed all such ethnic celebrations are national holidays Educational system is ditching rote learning and memorization techniques & emphasizing more on math and science

India India 2nd largest country in the world Population of more than 1 billion (China is number 1)Colonized by Britain but became independent in 1947Member of the BRIC club (Brazil, Russia, India, China)Life expectancy has increased from 32 to 65

India This nation has the largest number of college educated scientists and computer specialists in the world Indias limited success is its dramatic increase in population without corresponding growth in resources Religious diversity is a major feature of IndiaFor 2,000 years India was almost completely Hindu

Shivas Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDidNcTEjtA3 most important Gods in Hindu are Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), & Shiva (the Destroyer)Dancing Shiva has been described as clearest image of the activity of God which any art or religion can boast of

Shivas DanceWhen Shiva lapses into activity the cosmos become chaos and destruction followsThe Dance of Shiva represents both the conception of world processes as a supreme beings pastime and in the very nature of that blessed beingThe dance symbolizes the 5 main activities of the supreme being: creation and development; preservation and support; change and destruction; shrouding, symbolism, illusion, and giving rest; and release, salvation, and grace Indian Culture: Early HistoryBasic Indian culture comes from the peoples Dravidian and Aryan ethnic origins Dravidians came to India from the eastern Mediterranean coast 3000 years before ChristAbout 1500 BC this civilization fell into decline, and its people migrated to the southern part of the Indians subcontinent At the same time the Aryans arrived in India from Persia Todays population = 72% Aryan origin, 25% DravidianIndian Culture: Early HistoryIndias most populous cities (among the 40 largest in the world) include: Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, and BangaloreIndia has recovered from cycles of chaos again harmony time and time againNorth and South India have different historical roots North has been subjected to a series of foreign invasions so the North is more of a mixed heritageMuslim RuleBegan in north India in the early 13th century until the middle of the 19th century Muslim rulers were harsh on Hindus except the great Mughal emperor Akbar who married a Hindu princessFostered tolerance for all religions and had Hindus in high positions and received Jesuit priests in his court There have been forceful conversion of Hindus to Muslims These new Muslims were turned into second class citizens

Muslim RuleConfrontation between Muslims and Hindus have always been incompatible religious systems and a mutual hatred between the two still is around today The Muslim Mughal empire began to erode in the 18th century Independent regional kingdoms sprang up everywhere until the British came in the 19th century

The British Raj Instituted direct rule over India in 1857Many Indians think of this event as the 1st war of Independence The British garison at Kanpur was slaughtered Early expressions of nationalism first occurred in the Indian National Congress in 1885 and the All-India Muslim League in 1906Inspired by Gandhi the Indian National Congress began a program of peaceful noncooperation with British Rule Gandhi was killed right after India gained their independence from Britain

Modern LeadersJawaharlal Nehru, head of Congress became the first prime minister of India in 1947 His concepts were freedom, democracy, socialism, world peace, and international cooperation Indira Gandhi succeeded Nehru in office (is Nehrus daughter)Invoked the emergency provisions of the constitution in 1975 and suspended civil liberties

Modern LeadersRajiv Gandhi (Indiras son) became prime minister on her death On Rajivs death the Congress party was swept back into power Rajivs widow, Sonia Gandhi is now the president of the Congress party Forbes magazine ranked her as the sixth most powerful woman in the world in 2007

Cyclical Hindu Philosophy Philosophy overlaps religionHinduism

Bharata Varsha: Land of actorsHappiness through spiritual enlightenmentMukti (salvation) and Moksha (Perception)

Four paths; Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga, Jnana yoga and Raja yoga

Cyclical Hindu Philosophy Jivas (souls)

Personalized unconscious; Sattva (clarity ,light)Rajas ( passion, desire)Tamas (dullness, darkness)

Hindu Astrology

Endless cycle of the soul through birth, life, death, and reincarnation

The Cycle of LifeStage 1: StudentLearnStage 2: HouseholderFamilyVocationCommunity

The Cycle of LifeStage 3: Retirement True educationWhite-bearded manStage 4: Sannyasin One who neither hates nor loves anythingMukti

Reward or punishment based on their accumulated good and bad deeds

The Cycle of LifeImportance of AstrologyMatching the horoscopes of a bride and groom

Concept of time is cyclical

Religious images made of permanent materialsPractice religion at home

The Family CycleExtended familyWeakened by migration to cities and towns

Preference for a sonPutra: he who protects from going to hellDowry Against the lawBride burning and deaths of women

Masculinization of the Indian populationSex determination tests Illegal The Family Cycle: Nurturing ChildrenLove cannot be self-centered Children not considered sacred in poorer parts of IndiaPopulation of Children exceeds the population of the United StatesRegulate birth ratesThe father is a feared disciplinary figureFather-son relationship

The Family Cycle: The Status of WomenHistoryAncient timesMedieval timesRitualsSatiPurdah

The Family Cycle: The Status of WomenModern IndiaIndependent women in rural areas1979: Mother Teresa wins the Nobel Peace Price2007: Pratibha Patil first woman President

High rate of crimes against womenRising increase in sexual harassment

The Family Cycle: Marriage and FamilyMans worth and recognition bound on the reputation of his familyThe family contributes to decisions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyxY7kdwdpY

Arranged marriageDivorce disgraceful (changing)Child marriage; hard on the girlAgainst the law but still common

The Family Cycle: Marriage and FamilyShiva and ParvatiBoth genders part of the Indian society

Just as the Dance of Shiva, each member of the family fulfills a role dictated by family tradition

Social Cement Sense of duty (dharma)3 categories of dharma:Universal principles of harmony (sanatana dharma)Relative ethical systems varying by social class (varnashrama dharma)Personal moral conduct (svadharma) For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the evil, for the firm establishment of the national righteousness, I am born again and again.MahabharataOldest source of ethical ideasComposite poem following rivalry between 2 familiesIllustrates the illusory nature of the worldRepository of Hindu beliefs and customsBased on the assumption dharma is paramount in society Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Blessed One)The Power of DharmaIt was my duty.Conflict Originates in the nonadherence to dharma by those in positions of power3 actors: 2 contestants, peacemakerPeacemaker is victor because they restore harmony Positions of AuthoritySole repositories of virtues and vices of institutionSocial reform movements remove individuals holding positions of authoritySame social issues from Mughal and British Indian empires still existInstitutions on which society was founded no longer work Violent ContradictionViolence within a harmonious societyCharacter is rooted in depths of the mind rather than heat of actionWorldly acts are part of illusion of life and have no moral significance

PurityAvoid good and evil, prefer knowledge and ignorance Destructive acts by ignorant people are not sins Destructive acts by knowledgeable people are held against them in their search for enlightenment

The Waters of the GangesHoly waterWashes away a persons sinsRequired of Hindus at least once in lifeGovernment attempts to clean polluted waters have not been effectiveDance of Shiva: death among life, decomposition next to creation, pollution mixed with purity Caste SystemOfficially outlawed, still existsNatural law (soul is born into appropriate caste)Honors and duties given to each classHigher classes profit at the expense of those lower down CastesBrahmans: priests, teachers, intellectualsKshatriyas: warriors, police, administratorsVaishyas: skilled craftspeople, farmersShudras: artisans, workersDalits (Untouchables): work that is considered socially undesirable and unclean, lie outside normal society

JatiSubcastesFriendships within jati are closer and less formalA person's name gives information about jati and what region of the country their family is from Internalized jati norms define correct actions for individuals Caste SystemAll interests within caste regarded as identicalEquality of opportunity for everyone within casteAllowed to develop experience and skills needed to succeedSelf-governing castesCrimes committee by upper castes punished more severelyDance of Shiva: preservation of order interspaced with disorder The UntouchablesSymbol of human injusticeOstracized from rest of societyProximity to contaminating factor constitutes a permanent pollutionCollective and hereditary Irrevocably unclean Social EqualityGovernment, and supposedly nation, committed to social equalityGandhiHarijan : children of GodCaste system is illegal 22.5% of government jobs reserved for untouchablesDeep rooted prejudices are not easily eliminated Caste Tensions Violence against Dalits who fall in love with members of upper castesIntercaste marriages still evoke ferocious responsesUpper castes protest accommodation through affirmative action1990: upper caste students burned themselves to death in protest Absolving CastesHarijan beginning to assert democratic rights through organized political activityPower becoming ascendant over status2008: Mayawati (Dalit leader) elected chief minister of Uttar PradeshEducation acts as solvent to castesGovernment payouts to those who marry members of lower castes Social HierarchyElders have more authority than youthMen have greater authority than womenMaternal nurturing on part of superiorFilial respect and compliance on part of subordinate Social behavior extends into workplaceChanging social norms are consistent with the evolutionary aspect of the Dance of Shiva WorkEnables, prepares, and progresses individuals through the cycle of lifeOriginally described as duty without concern for material outcomesPut aside caste prejudices in workplace, but return to social norms at homeReverse discrimination Dance of Shiva: order within disorder In-GroupsFamily, relative, castes, language, religionVery informal and friendly within groupsInterfere with formally designated work hierarchy

GLOBE RankingsUncertainty avoidanceNearly tied with US, Germany is much higherConsistent with Hindu philosophy of life as an illusion Power distanceIndia has high power distance, US and Germany have low power distance IndividualismIndia very collectivist, US and Germany are more individualistic Masculinity CorruptionHonoring family leads to nepotism, dishonesty, and corruptionGuilt and anxiety are aroused only when actions go against primacy of relationsNo concern for foreign standards of ethics ManagersViewed as order giverSimilar to attitude in GermanyUS perceives managers as problem solvers and facilitators View inclusive managers as incompetent Films Bollywood is largest producer of films in the world800 movies a yearprotector from reality, concealer of truth, restorer of tranquility, enemy of fear and sadness, and cleanser of the soulInfluencers ideas of the good life, social values, family, and romantic relationships ConclusionForeign civilizations are influencing India, but spiritual nutrient of Hindu philosophy is still present India continues its journey toward salvations from worldly concernsHindu philosophy is key to understand how a nation of such diversity manages to bear its burdens while its people remain filled with peace