With the first quarter of the new year nearly under our belts, we’re starting to get a feel for what this year is going to be like. One of the issues we often think about here at SIMON & SIMON is what are the intercultural challenges that the teams we train are facing as they go about their language training?
Here are 10 of the intercultural challenges that Barry Tomalin, our cultural training expert, has gathered as ones we are facing in 2017.
1 POPULISM
The so-called populist movement of millions of people left out in the advance of globalization led to BREXIT and the Trump. Its effect on world cultural relations is only just beginning.
2 GLOBALISATION
Will globalization lead to a new age of internationalism or a retrenchment into local politics?
3 MULTICULTURALISM – the end
The increased demand for border restriction and the rejection of minority religious symbolism – spells the end for multiculturalism?
4 THE REJECTION OF ‘ESSENTIALIST’ NATIONAL CULTURAL MODELS
Can we still talk of national cultural models? Should we now use the word community and forget the national attachment?
5 THE RE-ACCEPTANCE OF OUTCASTS
The recognition of Cuba and the Iran nuclear deal allowed the two cultures to re-affirm their internationalism and ensure economic development. But will it last?
6 THE RE-INTEGRATION OF RUSSIA NEAR ABROAD
Russia re-integrated Crimea into Russia and supported secession by Eastern Ukraine Russian speaking separatists. A new Russian speaking world?
7 THE NEW ISLAMIC CALIPHATE
Ideals of strict Islamic observance and anger at perceived anti-Sunnism in Iraq led to ISIS, the Caliphate and international terrorism. To work successfully in the Middle East need to understand and appreciate Islam as it truly is. What is the future?
8 VIRTUAL REALITY
Our virtual culture will impact our ability to live in and appreciate everyday culture. Cultural reality and virtual reality in conflict? Or is virtual reality part of the new culture?
9 IDENTITY
Key words in 2016 were ‘mindfulness’ and ‘collaborative leadership’. In 2017 is the search for ‘identity’ and ‘identity politics’ about to replace them?
10 INTERCULTURE – THE 2017 TREND
Understanding the mindset, communication patterns and management styles of partners, colleagues and clients from different backgrounds in globalization is crucial. ‘Interculture’ will explode in 2017. Time for training!
Is your team facing any of these intercultural issues? Get in touch with us to find out if we can help you ease these through langauge training or cultural training – or both!