CULTURAL IDENTITY AND IR

Cultural Identity and International Relations

Cultural Identity and International Relations

Chapter I: Introduction

Background

Developing a sense of self is part of identity building which becomes important in differentiating between an individual and others. An individual can identify himself to a very limited unit or can widen and extend his identification to other persons or groups with whom he does not necessarily share the territory. This leads to a collective identity for which an individual can sacrifice his life. When such identity is hurt or threatened all the people sharing this collective identity feel that their survival and interests are at stake. The result is a collective reaction (Kriesberg 2003, 3).

This action can be limited to internal issues and can be constrained by the territory, but it also plays a great role in the shaping of foreign policy; interest groups in various host countries influence the decision makers, especially in dominant states to enhance a policy that would benefit their home states. In addition, culture is often a sign of certain shared beliefs or values. It is not possible to determine such beliefs or values in a methodical or comparable fashion. As an alternative, this Framework for Culture Statistics aims to recognize culture through the behaviour and activities resulting from those beliefs and values. The meaning of culture is also strongly associated to national and social identity, and yet, it is significant to compare certain elements of culture across cultures and countries.

Problem Statement

The creation of images and stereotype either about oneself or the other is another means whereby group identity is built. These images comprise experience, knowledge, values and beliefs about a desirable behaviour.Iidentity construction is related to ethnicity, race and religion; thus, identity is socially constructed although other aspects are “fixed at birth”. Identity is not only ascribed but it is acquired through the belonging to a given culture that has specific shared values such as religion, rituals, ideology, and land. The difference in identity might lead to conflicts when the individuals or groups feel insecure this attitude leads to violent reactions. People are not passive towards the society or the environment in which they live, they form images about any event around them and when their identities are threatened they create enemy images about the others especially if they are subject to successive aggression.

Purpose of the Study

The aim of the study to discuss the inter-states relationship in the last 20 years and it's role on social and economic development.

Research Question

This paper will address the following research question:

RQ1: How culture is majot player of social and economic development of international economy?

Chapter II: Literature Review

Identity is based on many peculiarities and understandings; its characteristics can be gathered under race, skin color, ethnicity, religion … but some of these traits are given “at birth as parental ethnicity and religion, place of birth and skin color. Others are acquired and modified later” (Kriesberg, 2003). Accordingly, many identities are not based on given characteristics but on shared values that connect people in ...