Developing Intercultural Competence through Glocal Activity Theory Using the Connect-Exchange Study Abroad App

The Need For Intercultural Competence Mashing

Spend a few minutes reviewing recent news media with glocal transactional rhetoric in mind to examine such complexity. We must assume people are in some way connected through communication tools, that we are sender-receivers rather than merely senders, and that we must work to achieve stasis or shared recognition of cultural disjuncture or hegemonic forces through a productive level of intercultural competence. As an example, consider a recent debate between Pakistani young girls about nuclear proliferation and “Indian aggression” (“What,” 2011). Certainly some further understanding of cultural difference, such as characteristics of self-restraint, is necessary in order to more fully understand cross-cultural positioning (see Figure 1). Or, consider an interfaith dialogue at the “Global Future 2045” Congress regarding human problems such as the militarization of neuroscience as weaponry, when religion becomes ideology, arguing for the disarmament of three weapons of mass destruction: poverty, fear, and hate (“Interfaith,” 2012). Some level of understanding related to uncertainty avoidance differences across cultures and organizations could aid the conversation (see Figure 2). Or, consider the Obama-Singh 21^st Century Knowledge Initiative, designed to “strengthen collaboration and build partnerships” in order to foster mutual understanding, facilitate education reform, and strengthen civil society without threatening cultural identity (“Obama,” 2013). One hurdle with the initiative is in understanding how diverse the definition of “civil society” is cross-culturally due to power distance differences (see Figure 3). Finally, consider a recent article outlining former U.S. Department of Justice official John Yoo's views. He is known for his legal justification of President George W. Bush's “enhanced interrogation techniques” (see Figure 4). During a recent U.S. House Judiciary committee meeting he testified in support of President Obama's approach to the use of drones for targeted killings (Voorhees, 2013).

Figure 1.

What Pakistani girls think about India (http://tinyurl.com/mzlsj3t)

Figure 2.

Interfaith dialogue- The Global Future 2045 Congress (http://tinyurl.com/kyw52wg)