The way different countries deal with the crisis varies enormously. This is to be expected of a culture: individuals and societies find their own solutions to universal problems. Right now, we are seeing a variety of solutions. What means do we deploy when reacting to an advancing danger? The best way to control and, it is to be hoped, quickly overcome the crisis is by being creative and innovative and learning from each other. We must learn from mistakes that have been made and above all from good solutions such as those practised in South Korea and Singapore. This, precisely, is a matter of research and the practice of intercultural communication, such as my research team and I undertake at our department. Culture and interculturalism are resources that can be constructively used. What are the strengths of other cultural behaviours? What can we learn from such approaches? How can differences be combined to achieve good results?
People depend on face-to-face relationships for their contentment and happiness! Our interaction via the internet on Zoom or Skype is only of limited use in the exchange of thoughts, feelings, and actions. Business too, with all its structures, stakeholders and processes can only resume its course if there is interaction. So we have to return to interaction, albeit – especially in the early stages – in a cautious and prudent manner. There has to be a certain degree of both social acceptance and the proper equipment, such as makes the wearing of protective masks possible. In this respect, a kind of two-way misunderstanding is of interest in respect to culture: so-called collectivist cultures see the wearing of face masks as an acceptable measure, above all to protect others. Europeans on the other hand are more likely to associate masks with illness, fear and even hysteria. A failure to understand may have contributed to the fact that for a long time, we did not wear masks, or felt very uncomfortable wearing them. But people are capable of learning and developing and I very much hope that Europeans will change their thinking in short order.
This article was published in the 01/2020 edition of Campus Passau Magazin.
Professor Christoph Barmeyer
How can intercultural negotiation and development processes lead to cultural synergies?
How can intercultural negotiation and development processes lead to cultural synergies?
Professor Christoph Barmeyer has been holder of the Chair of Intercultural Communication at the University of Passau since 2008. The emphasis in his research is on management in cultural comparison, intercultural communication and the development of intercultural skills.
Do you have any questions on this topic? Feel free to write us: frag-die-wissenschaft@uni-passau.de - We will forward your questions to Professor Barmeyer and publish his answers on this website.
