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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (44417)	8/22/2003 7:37:17 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Study on Cultural Attitudes From this international business website: Iran, as with other Muslim countries, has Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI) and Power Distance (PDI) Iran's highest Dimension ranking was Uncertainty Avoidance at 59, compared to the Arab (Muslim) World ranking of 68. The ultimate goal of this population is to control everything in order to eliminate or avoid the unexpected. As a result of this high Uncertainty Avoidance characteristic, the society does not readily accept change and is very risk adverse. Iran's second highest Hofstede ranking is Power Distance (PDI) at 58 (a virtual tie with their UAI rank of 59). The Power Distance rank of 58 compares to the Arab (Muslim) World ranking of 80. This condition is not necessarily subverted upon the population, but rather accepted by the society as their cultural heritage. Iran's lowest Hofstede ranking is Individuality (IDV) at 41, compared to the Muslim countries average of 38. Loyalty in a collectivist culture is paramount, and over-rides most other societal rules and regulations. The society fosters strong relationships where everyone takes responsibility for fellow members of their group. I think this is the sort of study that illumines the true conditions of Iranian society and allows for a firmer political analyses of the situation on the ground. Iranians have tendencies towards acceptance of the status quo and aversion to any sort of change however it is significantly lower than that of comparable Arab-Muslim nations. Therefore while they may agitate for change they don't want a revolution (or counterrevolution) that would fundamentally alter the status quo. It strengthens my earlier convictions that Iran will keep the theocracy and gradually absorb modernity to the degree that perhaps someday (within decades or a century) it'll be a religious state with an apathetic population (Scandinavian and northern European nations). On the left hand corner of the webpage there is a list of nations and their results from the study. Therefore I purviewed and compared India and Pakistan. Pakistan is the archetypal Muslim society (more Muslim than the Arabs:), extremely risk averse, low individualism and low tolerance for uncertainty however we are relatively egalitarian for a Sub-continental nation. This explains the population's instinctual acceptance of martial law and order. India's population is highly receptive to diverse and new ideas (Hindu heritage of acceptance, acculturation and coexistence) and there is a a fundamental stress on "Long Tem Orientation" (Indians are far more patient with longer term results ), a tribute to a millennia old culture. However it is an extremely stratified society, with acceptance of inequalities is significantly higher, more masculine oriented, with the perpetuation of gender defined roles (moreso than Pakistan), and higher individualism (correlates with the breakdown of the joint family system in urban India). An interesting and related article on whether these rankings correlate with World Religions Conclusion: Atheist = Power Distance Hindu = Power Distance Muslim = Power Distance Buddhist = Uncertainty Avoidance Catholic = Uncertainty Avoidance Jewish = Uncertainty Avoidance Christian = Individualism Note: No religion correlates with the Masculinity Dimension. China is the atheist country (atheism is not a theoculture and is merely the lack of belief) however the stratified hierarchy (or genotocracy, rule by the elders) a reflection of Chinese mores than atheistic practises. There is an East-West clinal gradient, with Orientals being more accepting of the status quo however this acceptance declines towards the Euro-Christian nations. This study was created for international business but it has untold ramifications for political analysis and diplomacy. Pakistani support for the military, the preservation of the regime in Iran and the deep tentacles of the caste system in India can be understood through the context of this study. Zachary Latif 10:46 www.latif.blogspot.com.pk