Archives for November 2016

47 million South Africans, both men and women, have a life expectancy of only 48 years. About 70% or more are under 50 years old with only 26% under the age of 10 (p. 523). 37 million are black Africans, 4.4 million are white, 1.2 million are Asian and 4.1 million are colored. Black Africans consist of 9 tribal groups. All tribes have their own cultural heritage, language and identity (p. 523). Tribal groups were assigned by the racist government to 10 ethnic homelands during the apartheid period.

With a continent this diverse, it is impossible to generalize on business and trade (p. 528). South African business customs require flexibility depending on the ethnic group in which you are dealing with. Many Africans transition from traditional cultures based upon agriculture, rural and tribal ways of life (p. 530). Many are moving towards an urban lifestyle that is based on technological and industrial development. With the new millennium much discussion surrounds the ideas of an African Renaissance and rediscovery of the creative past (p. 531). Much of the renewal would need to consider the following: effective leadership, environmental protection/rural development, population control, and continental health crusades.

Effective leadership would consist of leaders that are better educated and more honest and competent. Leaders would need to be socially responsibility and have the ability to be aware of international independence (p. 531). New leadership would promote democratic government and a greater respect for environmental and human rights (p. 531). Massive cultural changes would be must requiring the heads of the 53 states to work together.  Environmental protection and population control would include changes to traditional large families and preservation of resources. Health crusades would work with an African Union to take control and help with sources to conquer HIV/AIDS (p. 532). There would be a push for promoting education and development of skills throughout. This development should include civic, environmental, intertribal and interracial education.

With these developments, Africa can thrive. Africa houses every person in the human family (p. 534). It would benefit greatly for global leaders to appreciate the possibilities that Africa has. Much of communication in Africa is internalized in the person rather than communicated into words as America (p. 534). Much of the world would greatly benefit from appreciating and helping Africa for the contribution to humanity and the multiple nations that have come from within (p. 534).

References:

Moran, R. T., Harris, P. R., & Moran, S. V. (2011). Managing cultural differences: Global leadership strategies for cross-cultural business success. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Post World War II, Japan centralized its focus on rebuilding itself from the ground-up, beginning with its crippled economy with the help of policies proposed by General Douglas A. MacArthur (Office of the Historian, n.d). By 1970, Japan had mostly caught up with the other industrial economies in the world, and their initial goal of rapid economic development was a major success; their rapid economic recovery is referred by many as the “Miracle Recovery” (Otsubo, 2007). Japan had quickly and successfully established a main bank, a market system, corporate governance and official public policies (Otsubo, 2007). By the early 1980’s, Japan became so successful with their collectivistic economic repair approach, their GDP per capita rivaled or surpassed many western countries and eventually boasted the second largest economy in the world, just behind the United States (Colombo, 2012). Japan’s economy was bolstered by mega corporations like Sony, Mitsubishi, Honda, Datsun (Nissan), Hitachi and Nintendo, whom all shared a common, yet super effective approach in the recovery of the Japanese economy– create more efficient Western products and sell the improved products back to the West (Colombo, 2012). However, by the early 1990’s, Japan’s overwhelming economic success came to a screeching halt with the stock bubble and real estate bubble implosions, an economic disaster that has persisted and continues to affect the livelihood of Japanese millennials today (Colomobo, 2012). It is believed the Japanese economic bubble was the result of the failure to adapt, poor corporate governance and the absence of innovative investment opportunities, however, this may not wholly account for the persistence of Japan’s economic stagnation (Colombo, 2012). Currently, Japan is threatened with the world’s most rapidly aging population, alongside its continuing decline of birth rates and immigration; resulting in an estimated loss of a million people a year for the next couple decades (Shmuel, 2016). It is suspected the culprit to Japan’s continued economic stagnation lies within Japan’s crippling combination of high Masculinity and high Uncertainty Avoidance according to Hofstede’s 6-D model; a double-edged blade responsible for both Japan’s initial economic thriving and also its economic stifling (Hofstede, n.d).

According to Hofstede (n.d), a high Masculinity score indicates a society that promotes competition, achievement and success. Hofstede (n.d) also states that high Masculinity is founded on the basis of success which is measured by a “winner” or “best-in-the-field” mentality. This type of value system is reflected through the everyday behaviors and actions of the society in question. As a basis, the United States is considered a highly Masculine society that promotes competitiveness, achievement and success; indicative by their Masculinity score of 62. However, by comparison, it is revealed that Japan possesses an even more extraordinary Masculinity score of 95; the highest score of all of the countries cataloged by Hofstede, toppling over all western countries (Clearly Cultural, 2016). Such a high score leaves little room for alternative behavior outside the norms of absolute achievement and excellence. Japan, however, utilizes this high masculinity atypically and demonstrates it in a group verse group setting due to their mild collectivism (Hofstede, n.d). In essence, the Japanese people are constantly fighting to win for their representative groups, companies or teams; Hofstede (n.d) argues that this behavior can be witnessed as early as in Kindergarten, during sports day competitions where children are broken into 2 opposing teams and aim for victory. In the construct of education, the Japanese children are constantly reminded about the “race to the top” mentality, due to the continued, extreme competitiveness that awaits in their adulthood (Berlatsky, 2013). The “race to the top” mentality proved to be effective and compatible during Japan’s economic high up until the late 1980’s; an effective strategy for a capitalistic society (Berlatsky, 2013). However, as Japan continues trudging through its three decade economic slump, with more than a third of its population on an irregular employment schedule, and below the poverty line; a new strategy must be implemented to rescue Japan’s drowning economy (Berlatsky, 2013).

Uncertainty Avoidance in Japan is also remarkably high with a score of 92; effectively placing Japan as a country with one of the largest uncertainty avoidance scores according to Hofstede (n.d). Because Uncertainty Avoidance dictates societal behavior associated with disinterest in ambiguity and the unforeseeable future, this dimension is especially important when considering Japan’s ability to break free from their economic status quo (Hofstede, n.d). The high Uncertainty Avoidance score is evident in how Japanese people pay particular attention to societal predictability and their strong adherence to societal norms. Cultural uniformity and predictability is consistent among all Japanese people in behaviors and event procedures, such as school ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and other social events (Hofstede, n.d). Because there is such a great emphasis on predictability, individuals will rarely consider risky or unusual behavior. In the corporate world, Japanese managers are expected to prepare facts, figures and risk factors in full detail before embarking on any project or decision (Hofstede, n.d). It is unsurprising that Hofstede (n.d) argues that Japan’s high need for Uncertainty Avoidance is a major obstacle in Japan’s ability to make change. Uncertainty avoidance has crippled Japan’s ability to develop new and different solutions to tackle its issues at hand, including the country’s reluctance to employ more women and hire the less than extraordinary. Among these issues, one of the most concerning problems involve low birth rates. According to Jozuka & Ripley (2016), nearly half of Japanese millennials are single and unwilling to commit to marriage with the existing financial and job insecurities (Jozuka & Ripley, 2016). This statistic is especially significant because of Japan’s current birth rate ratios of 1.46 children per woman; far short of the 2.1 estimate needed for population growth (Shmuel, 2016).

Japan’s initial economic thriving was a major success with the country’s cumulative efforts in “catching up” toward the pre-established economies of the western world (Crawford, 1998). The concept of catching up was especially effective because of its super-linear and directive goal, which was complimentary to Japan’s high Masculinity and Uncertainty Avoidance. Japan had a unanimous goal– divert all energy towards creating a strong economic foundation and starting anew. In this process, Japan took all of what was great in the western worlds and greatly succeeded in making many products better, and most importantly, profitable (Crawford, 1998). Since reaching it’s goal over 30 years ago, Japan is still in need of a new strategy to revitalize its economy from its current state of affairs. Though high Uncertainty Avoidance and high Masculinity are key features of the Japanese identity, a compromise in these domains may be needed for steps in the right direction, perhaps a different form of ‘catching up’.

Berlatsky, N. (2013, November 22). Japan’s Cutthroat School System: A Cautionary Tale for the U.S. The Atlantic.
Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/11/japans-cutthroat-school-system-a-cautionary-tale-for-the-us/281612/

Clearly Cultural. (2016). Masculinity. Clearly Cultural. 
Retrieved from http://www.clearlycultural.com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions/masculinity/

Colombo, J. (2012, June 4). Japan’s Bubble Economy of the 1980s. The Bubble Bubble. 
Retrieved from http://www.thebubblebubble.com/japan-bubble/

Crawford, R. J. (1998, February). Reinterpreting the Japanese Economic Miracle. Harvard Business Review. 
Retrieved from https://hbr.org/1998/01/reinterpreting-the-japanese-economic-miracle

Hofstede, G. (n.d). What About Japan? Geert Hofstede. 
Retrieved from https://geert-hofstede.com/japan.html

International Dove. (2015, November 15). Newborns in Need [Online image].
Retrieved from http://internationaldove.com/newborns-in-need/

Jozuka, E. & Ripley, W. (2016, September 20). Why are almost half of Japan’s millennials still virgins? CNN.
Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/20/asia/japanese-millennials-virgins/

Office of the Historian. (n.d). Occupation and Reconstruction of Japan, 1945-52. Office of The Historian.
Retrieved from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/japan-reconstruction

Otsubo, S. T. (2007, April). Post-war Development of the Japanese Economy.
Retrieved from http://www.gsid.nagoya-u.ac.jp/sotsubo/Postwar_Development_of_the_Japanese%20Economy(Otsubo_NagoyaU).pdf

Royalty Free Stock Photo. (n.d). Rise and fall graph [Online image].
Retrieved from https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-rise-fall-graph-image10023735

Schmuel, J. (2016, August 11). Trapped by its past success, Japan aims to fix economy with Abenomics’ ‘three arrows’. Financial Post.
Retrieved from http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/japan-in-transition-world-watching-to-see-if-abenomics-works

Tour East Holidays Inc. (2016). Japan [Online Image].
Retrieved from http://en.toureast.com/destinations/asia/japan

Japan is an island nation that is made up of over 6,000 different islands (Japan Facts 2016). Japan like many island nations is shaped by the uncertainties of island culture and hard work in order to survive. Japan is one of the  most masculine cultures in the world receiving a rating of 95 on Hofstede 6D model. Even though it is one of the most masculine countries in the world it is also a collectivist nation and according to Hofstede “Japan has been a paternalistic society and the family name and asset was inherited from father to the eldest son. The younger siblings had to leave home and make their own living with their core families.” This societal norm has been adopted in Japans corporate world and has lead to a nation known to work excessive hours and made it extremely difficult for women to gain positions of power and maintain employment after having their first child.

Due to the harsh corporate environment and economic times in Japan many of the youth are living at home at not placing the same priority on family life and long term career success. Sex and relationships for the youth of Japan is no longer a high priority and according to the government’s population institute, women in their early 20s today have a 25% chance of never marrying and even worse, their chances of remaining without children are even higher at almost 40% (Hayworth 2013) further worsening the already low birthrate. Japan is projected by experts to lose over 34% of their population by 2100 and currently has one of the lowest birthrates in the world at 1.4%

Change requires learning, learning from past mistakes and learning from others. Japan as a nation is on the verge of being forced to change or accept their fate as a nation on the decline. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has publicly declared the population problem a priority for the nation and has addressed it with what is being called Abenomics and is trying to target the 1.8% birthrate for the nation in addition to a three pronged approach to boost the economy and spending (Hutt 2016). Only time will tell if Japan is really a nation ready to learn and embrace change allowing them to solve the current decline in population that is forecasted to only get worse.

Geert Hofstede. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2016, from https://geert-hofstede.com/japan.html

Haworth, A. (2013, October 20). Why have young people in Japan stopped having sex? Retrieved November 27, 2016, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/20/young-people-japan-stopped-having-sex

Japan Facts. (2016, October 13). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.mapsofworld.com/japan/facts.html

Japan’s culture consists of a blend of island culture as well as culture from neighboring Asian countries. This ultimately helped them form their own unique culture. Along with cultural influences from other countries, their geographical location formed much of their way of life.

“Japanese culture developed with strong contributions from Chinese civilization, but did so under the conditions of self-sufficiency characteristic of an island state” ( Prasol, 2010). Living on an island measn that much of their resources must either come from the resources on land, the surrounding waters, or by means of importing and exporting. The second method can become quite costly. This can be seen on other islands such as Hawaii. The cost of living in Hawaii is higher due to its lack of natural resources needed for modern day development. At the same time, living on an island often gives a certain landscape that can be difficult to find in other parts of the world. An example could be the Japanese pear, which is large, round and crispy like that of an apple but has a taste closer to that of a pear. Here, you can find them at some grocery stores labeled as “Asian pears” and I highly recommend trying one if you haven’t before.

“While modern Japan no longer functions solely this way, the work ethic and creativity that arose from that type of economy persists today to solve other problems such as shrinking habitable land because of the dense population” (Pennsylvania State University, 2016)This type of mindset is persistent throughout the generations from their tough work ethic was essential to developing the island. This is something to keep in mind when working with not only Japan but cultures that come from an island life in general being that they likely had a similar experience. Being on an island means that the water is very crucial to their resources such as fish. Back in the day and fishing was more manual, this required much more physical labor and therefore was in more physical shape.

Prior to technological advancements, the work ethic that came with living on an island greatly influenced their survival. Now a days, their work ethic continues to influence their daily lives. The dense population and limited land available on an island is now becoming their key to survival.

References:

Pennsylvania State University (2016). Lesson 11: Asia: Focus on Japan from: https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1802572/modules/items/21179129

Aleksandr Fedorovich Prasol (2010). Modern Japan: Origins of the Mind : Japanese Traditions and Approaches to Contemporary Life. World Scientific.

With our focus this week on Eastern Europe and Russia, the recent current even seems relevant for me to share and allow readers to look into. 

This is a picture to illustrate the US’s involvement in the build up with NATO on the Eastern Europe border to help counter an assertive Russia. The US Military will deploy 6000 troops, tanks, infantry vehicles, and combat helicopters to Eastern Europe. The planned deployment will happen in January 2017. The troops they will be sending are 4,000 troops from Colorado, and 1oth Combat Aviation Brigade that consists of 1750 Airmen that are armed with over 60 combat helicopters ranging from Chinnoks, Blackhawks, and Medivacs. The reason the US is sending in this military support to support the Eastern European Allies in a time of need.

Russia has had the world scared for many years now, and for good reason. “Recently Putin moved nuclear-capable missiles close to Poland and Lithuania. This week he sent an aircraft-carrier group down the North Sea and the English Channel. He has threatened to shoot down any American plane that attacks the forces of Syria’s despot, Bashar al-Assad. Russia’s UN envoy has said that relations with America are at their tensest in 40 years.” (Russia 2016).  These are just some of the most recent events that have lead to the US’s involvement in providing troops where necessary as the moves of this Dictator are unknowing, and life threatening to many.

As we discuss throughout the lesson and shared some of the links of Eastern Europe and Russia, this is the most important link in their modern history. The threat of a Russian Invasion on Eastern Europe, and the possibility of another World War. To some this may seem like a stretch, but to others it is a reality. The population of Eastern Europe lives in fear not knowing if Putin and Russia are going to attack their borders, launch a nuclear warhead, launch an aerial attack, or other means of war. The link between these two right now is the possibility of another way between them, that could change their culture and economy for the upcoming centuries.

Many did not have an opportunity to see this news article, and the amount of military power the the US is sending to support NATO and the border build up because of the most recent election which captivated the world. While some are fearful of our new president, many are also optimistic. Maybe with a new leader in place, Russia will be more willing to forge a relationship, and stop their threats against the world.

Shortly after the Russian revolution, and the dismantling of the Russian Czar – Nicholas II, father to Anastasia (if you’re familiar with the Disney movie which told the legend of her escaping the execution of her entire family), the USSR was established.  It originally consisted of four republics, but grew into one of the “world’s most powerful and influential states” and eventually consisted of 15 republics (Np, 2016).

The entire region was ruled by a Communist Party, one that required the loyalty of all its’ citizens.  It eventually was controlled by a totalitarian, Joseph Stalin, who demanded complete control over every aspect of the region’s political and social life.  Those who denied his policies were arrested.  After his death, the Soviet Union still maintained the Communist Party’s power, but eliminated the brutal policies and focused their energy on the Cold War (Np, 2016).

During the midst of the Cold War, both the United States and the Soviet Union began developing missiles, which sparked the Cuban missile crisis, a confrontation that brought these two regions very close to war.  After a treaty was signed that banned the aboveground testing of nuclear weapons, the Soviet’s were determined to “never again be humiliated by their military inferiority” and began to build a “conventional and strategic force that the United States was forced to match for the next 25 years” (Np. 2015)

How did this affect the Soviet Union’s economy?  Well, for starters – it was estimated that in the mid 1980’s, 70% of the Soviet Union’s industrial output and over 50% of their total output was going towards their military.  A long story short, the Reagan Administration increased the military budget, but the Soviet Union was unable to increase its output going to the military (it needed those outputs for the rest of the economy).  This eventually ended the “arms race” and ended the Cold War.  Without the threat of the United States’ military, there was no reason for the USSR to continue on with their current totalitarian regime and their political system fell apart.  The majority of the republics that made up the USSR are now ran by a federal republic – with a president a prime minster – one that is nominated by the president (Watkins, Nd).

Since the collapse, Russia’s GDP fell to 40% in a 5 year span – while the rest of the world’s increased.  They were even forced to import over 1/3 of their food products by the late 1990’s.  The country still experiences problems economically, and in the early 2000’s their economy plummeted after the arrest of Russian’s wealthiest man – the owner of Yukos Oil Co, one of the world’s top oil suppliers.  While the arrest could have been strictly due to the fraudulent charges, it has also been said that Putin arrested the man to take him out of the political race. Because of these accusations – people question whether Russia has made any progress in the past three decades (Poland, Nd.)

References:

Np. (2015, July 20). Encyclopedia Britannica: Cold War. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/event/Cold-War

Np. (2016). History: Fall of the Soviet Union. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/fall-of-soviet-union

Np. (2016). History: This Day in History – Dec 30. Retrieved from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1802572/modules/items/21179144

Poland, M. (Nd.). Russian Economy in the Aftermath of the Collapse of the Soviet Union. Retrieved from http://www2.needham.k12.ma.us/nhs/cur/Baker_00/03-04/baker%20poland%20p1/ussr.htm

Watkins, T. (Nd.). The Economic Collapse of the Soviet Union. Retrieved from http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/sovietcollapse.htm

What is Brexit, exactly?  Britain + exit = Brexit.  The historical decision of Great Britain to leave the European Union, fueled by immigration – 13% of the United Kingdom’s population is made up of immigrants which affects their health care, education and wages, in which the UK wants control over its borders and whether they allow refugees from Syria or immigrants from Romania into their country.  They suffer from non-conformity – the United Kingdom is only one of two countries who refuse to adopt the Euro (the European Union’s common currency), and they dislike the massive amount of funds it takes to become a member of this union – $16.3 billion in 2014 (Criss, 2016).

What does this mean for the holidays?  Well, according to BBC, the holidays are too soon after Brexit to really make a significant impact.  Britain first needs to file an Article 50 which will start the two-year exit process, but until then, legal matters stay the same.  During the Christmas season there are numerous holiday markets (much like Christkindl), where vendors from all over Europe come to sell goods.  These vendors can be affected if Britain decides to impose visas or permits, resulting in the vendors not setting up at the largest markets in England.  While this affects those particular vendors, who will most likely set up at other European holiday markets, it may increase the amount of local vendors.  However, current immigrant stallholders don’t fear their welcome at these markets and feel that the market is a “sign of human friendship” (BBC News, 2016).

Immigrant workers are not the only ones to suffer, though.  The British pound hasn’t quite recovered since Brexit earlier this year.  This caused fears that prices would increase on imported goods – however, according to an article in MailOnline, that’s not entirely the case.  Putting Christmas dinner on the table will actually be slightly cheaper than it was last year due to supermarket price wars.  However, these savings are only on a few key ingredients and were announced after Britain received news that there was a shortage of dairy products due to a collapse in supply from British farms (London, 2016).

Brexit isn’t all visions of sugar plums with it’s two year waiting period and cheaper turkeys, though.  There were, and still are, serious matters to be addressed – such as Scotland seeking its independence from the UK, for the second time this decade.

References:

Criss, D. (2016, June 2o). The non-Brits guide to Brexit. CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/20/world/non-brits-guide-to-brexit-explainer-trnd/index.html

London, B. (2016, November 13). Quitting Brussels gives us cheaper sprouts!  The cost of Christmas dinner has gone DOWN despite fears that Brexit would bump up prices. Mail Online. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-37751820

N.p. (2016, November 13). Christmas markets: Will Brexit have any affect? BBC, News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-37751820