Question

Explain what is national culture and its main dimensions (600-650 words )

Answer 1

It shall be noted that the national culture is the set of norms, behaviors, beliefs, customs, and values shared by the population of a sovereign nation. The behavior of the inhabitants of a nation is shaped by the values, beliefs, and cultural traditions that are common to them and which differ from other nation-states. Hence, National Culture is considered the combination of symbols, beliefs, and artifacts typical for members of one nation. It is inclusive of all the beliefs and values shared by the population of a particular nation.

Its main dimensions are power-distance, masculinity-femininity, individualism-collectivism, uncertainty-avoidance, and long-term orientation versus short-term normative orientation.

Power-distance: This dimension expresses the degree to which the less powerful members of a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. The fundamental issue here is how a society handles inequalities among people. People in societies exhibiting a large degree of Power Distance accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place and which needs no further justification. In societies with low Power Distance, people strive to equalize the distribution of power and demand justification for inequalities of power.

Masculinity-Femininity: The Masculinity side of this dimension represents a preference in society for achievement, heroism, assertiveness, and material rewards for success. Society at large is more competitive. Its opposite, Femininity, stands for a preference for cooperation, modesty, caring for the weak, and quality of life. Society at large is more consensus-oriented.

Individualism-Collectivism: Individualism can be defined as a preference for a loosely-knit social framework in which individuals are expected to take care of only themselves and their immediate families. Its opposite, Collectivism, represents a preference for a tightly-knit framework in society in which individuals can expect their relatives or members of a particular ingroup to look after them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. A society’s position on this dimension is reflected in whether people’s self-image is defined in terms of “I” or “we.”

Uncertainty-avoidance: The Uncertainty Avoidance dimension expresses the degree to which the members of a society feel uncomfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. The fundamental issue here is how a society deals with the fact that the future can never be known.

Long-term orientation versus short-term normative orientation: Every society has to maintain some links with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and the future. Societies that focus on short-term normative orientation maintain time-honored traditions and norms while viewing societal change with suspicion. Those who focus on long-term orientation, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.