International and Global Communication Summary
by Elvan <3
WEEK 1: The Worlds We Live In
Article 1: Fukuyama-The End of History
- two major challenges to liberalism: 1)fascism and 2)communism
- universal homogenous state: real life embodiment in countries of power in Western
Europe
- End= as in the end of mankind’s ideological evolution and universalization of Western
liberal democracy as the final form of human government
Article 2: Huntington- The Clash of Civilizations
- hypothesis: fundamental source of conflict will be primarily cultural
- civilization= highest cultural grouping of people and the broadest level of cultural
identity people have
(defined by objective elements like language, history, religion, customs, institutions,
and by subjective elements such as self-identification
- 9 possible major civilizations in the future
● western
● sinic
● japanese
● islamic
● hindu
● orthodox
● latin-american
● african
● buddhist
- 6 reasons for clashes:
1. differences among civilizations are real and basic (fundamental)
2. world is becoming a smaller place
3. economic modernization is separating people from long standing local
identities
4. The growth of civilization consciousness is enhanced by the dual role of the
West (a. as a peak of power b. return to roots phenomenon in non-western
civilizations)
5. cultural differences are less mutable
6. economic regionalism is increasing
- clash of civilizations can happen in 2 levels:
1. micro-level= adjacent groups, struggle to control over a territory
2. macro-level= states from different civilizations, military and economic power,
struggle to control over international institutions and third parties
Lecture:
Globalization= compression of time and space
,Contextualisation: to contextualize= to try and understand other people’s stories
Geert Hofstede: “culture is the collective programming of the mind” and it distinguishes
members of groups
Hofstede classifies cultures in 6 dimensions:
1. individualism vs. collectivism
2. power distance
3. feminine vs. masculine
4. uncertainty avoidance
5. long vs. short term orientation
6. restraint vs. indulgence
3 issues with Hofstede’s dimensions:
1. culture as a fixed entity
2. culture as a homogenous entity
3. culture as a stereotypical entity
Stereotype: to believe unfairly that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the
same
e.g French people in Emily in Paris
Another way to classify cultures; World Values Survey
- it has 2 dimensions:
1. traditional vs. secular-rational values
2. survival vs. self-expression values
(the Inglehart-Welzel World Cultural Map)
Beyond values, how can we understand each other?
- language: we may not be speaking the same language
- colors: not even colors are the same e.g ancient greek doesn’t have the word for
“blue”
- places: they can be called differently in different languages e.g London(EN),
Londre(FR), Londra(TR) or Jerusalem(EN) and Kudüs(TR) or Londonderry and
Northern Ireland or Taiwan and Republic of China
Are we rational?
rationality: the quality of being based on clear thought and reason or of making
decisions based on clear thought and reason
Power of Stories
Understanding Stories
- ancient stories
- histories
- religions and philosophies
Who is the most significant historical figure? Who’s bigger? by Steven Skiena
- all rated by Americans…
(check the slides for the rank list)
,Belief: conviction of truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon
Cognitive Dissonance: mental conflict that occurs when beliefs/assumptions are contradicted
by new information
Social Storytelling
- storytelling with a function of education to help develop a feeling of belonging to a
society
- it includes traditions, fairy tales, legends, and myths
Tradition: stories, beliefs, and behaviors that have been a part of the culture of organized
groups of people for a long time
(e.g Kecak in Bali)
(Türkiye-> Hıdrellez)
Fairy Tales: wonder tales involving marvelous elements and occurrences, though not
necessarily about fairies
(e.g Cinderella, Puss-in-Boots)
How real are fairy tales?
e.g Prince marrying an actress (UK)
e.g The Royal Family of the NL
Legend: traditional story or group of stories told about a particular person or place
- used to mean a tale about a saint
- resembles to folktale in content, they may include supernatural beings, elements of
mythology or explanations of natural phenomena, but they are associated with a
particular locality or person and are told as matter of history
(e.g Messi)
(Türkiye-> Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi)
Myth: a symbolic narrative, usually of unknown origin and at least partly traditional, that
relates to actual events and is especially associated with religious beliefs
- myths are specific accounts of gods or superhuman beings involved in extraordinary
events or circumstances in a time that is unspecified
(e.g Zeus to explain lightning)
Monomyth: all mythic narratives are variations of a single great story (Joseph
Campell-author of Hero with a Thousand Faces)
Myths have 4 functions:
1. Metaphysical function: awakens a sense of awe and wonder before the mystery of
being
2. Cosmological function: explains how the universe works
3. Sociological function: most important of them all, gives a sense of belonging,
validates and supports existing social order
4. Pedagogical function: guides the individual through the stages of life, connects us
with people of the past who encountered similar situations
, Modern Mythology;
Icon: person who is very successful and admired
- e.g Kim Kardashian
Hero: person admired for great/brave acts or fine qualities
- e.g Gilgamesh, the Iliad, Beowulf, La Chanson de Roland
difference is that hero will sacrifice for greater good
Official 20th century icons;
- Gandhi
- Pope John Paul 3rd
- Che Guevara
- Martin Luther King
- Nelson Mandela
21st century icons;
- Harry Potter
- Kim Kardashian
- Super heroes (Marvel & DC characters)
Ideology: form of social or political philosophy in which practical elements are as prominent
as theoretical ones
Explaining the World:
Fukuyama;
- cold war was the end of history, the power of ideas is over and one ideology
prevailed (USA)
Explaining the World:
Huntington;
- clash between civilizations
- 9 different civilizations
Explaining the World:
Background;
- different world views because of where you come from and your stories
Explaining the World:
Perspectives/Ideologies;
- Huntington and Fukuyama have different perspectives on explaining the world
Scientia potentia est= knowledge is power (Francis Bacon)
Novum organum= system of logic called Baconian method
Francis Bacon and the 4 Idols:
1. Idol of the Tribe:
- false mirror
