Multinational military missions require soldiers to interact and cooperate with people from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. This exposure can lead to misunderstandings and conflict if there is no prior knowledge or training regarding these differences.
Participating in such missions can also help develop soldiers' awareness of their own cultural beliefs and practices. It allows them to reflect on their values and learn how others think, act, and feel differently.
Soldiers who have participated in multinational military missions often describe the experience as eye-opening, challenging, and rewarding. They learn about foreign languages, customs, traditions, food, music, art, history, religion, politics, economics, laws, and societies that may be entirely new to them. They become aware of cultural biases and stereotypes and how they impact interactions with people from other countries. They understand the importance of nonverbal communication, gestures, body language, and facial expressions in different cultures. They see how power dynamics play out across nations and regions, leading to misunderstandings and conflict.
Cross-cultural relational norms refer to the ways individuals communicate, behave, and relate to each other within specific social contexts. These norms are shaped by culture, upbringing, education, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, and other factors. Soldiers may not realize how much their own culture affects their behavior until encountering a stark contrast in another country.
Some cultures emphasize personal space, while others are more comfortable with close physical proximity. Some cultures value individualism over collectivism, while others prioritize group harmony. Some cultures expect directness and honesty in communication, while others prefer indirectness and diplomacy.
By learning about these differences, soldiers can better navigate cross-cultural relationships. They can recognize their own cultural assumptions and biases and adjust accordingly. They develop empathy and understanding for others' perspectives, which leads to greater respect and collaboration. They learn to listen actively, ask questions, share information, and seek common ground. These skills transfer back home, making them more effective leaders, team members, partners, parents, friends, and colleagues.
Participating in multinational military missions also raises challenges. Soldiers may experience anxiety, confusion, frustration, or anger when faced with unfamiliar customs and beliefs. They may struggle to understand why people act differently from what they consider "normal." They may feel judged or misunderstood because of their appearance, accent, or behavior. They may be tempted to adopt stereotypes or prejudices that perpetuate negative attitudes towards certain groups.
To mitigate these risks, soldiers need training and support before, during, and after the mission. They should receive cultural awareness training, language classes, mentorship programs, and debriefing sessions to process their experiences. They should be encouraged to practice open-mindedness, curiosity, flexibility, and adaptability. They should explore diverse perspectives and engage in difficult conversations without judgment. This preparation enables soldiers to contribute meaningfully to international cooperation, peacekeeping, and security while developing their own personal growth and wellbeing.
How does participation in multinational military missions shape soldiers' understanding of cross-cultural relational norms?
Participation in multinational military missions has shaped soldiers' understanding of cross-cultural relational norms by creating an awareness of cultural differences, promoting empathy towards other cultures, and developing tolerance for different ways of life. These experiences have led many soldiers to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to communication and relationships across cultures.