Touch And Diplomacy: The International Relations (Essay Sample)

Touch and Diplomacy
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Touch and Diplomacy
Discussion 1
The concept of the cultural norm in the international relations is still contentious (Pamment 2016). Culture refers to a pattern of behavior and attitudes of a given group. However, norms refer to behaviors and attitudes that are considered normal, average or typical within that group. All states hold different cultural norms (Roy et.al, 2016). Norms affect every aspect of the group behaviors. Greetings and non-verbal gestures vary across states, cultures, and religions. Significantly, what is accepted in the certain state might not be accepted in another state. For instance, when Muslims don’t shake hands with opposite gender regarding cultural and religious difference, it should be accepted in the international diplomatic relations. The diplomatic norms have limitations when it comes to cultural phenomenon. During Hillary Clinton visit to Saudi Arabia, she followed all the required diplomatic norms that are required for a high profile U.S secretary of state, but the issue of the handshake should have anything to do with Saudi Arabia Diplomatic relation.
Issues of handshake are not unique to Islam. When there is a need to touch depending on circumstances, Muslims are permitted to do so. For instance, in case a person with opposite gender seizures or faints. To understand this concept firmly, you need to diagnose that Muslim Women or Men refusing to shake a person’s hand has nothing to do with diplomatic norms if a person is not of the same religion (Shafee and Rhodes, 2016). Muslims men are likely not to shake a hand of a Muslim woman or non-Muslim woman. They believe in Prophet Mohammed who pointed out that when two Muslims meet and shake hands, their sins are forgiven. However, this concept of shaking hands is not restricted to Islam but also to Jewish followers who abide with negiah doctrines; it forbids any form of physical contact with opposite gender.
Discussion 2
Cultural ethnocentrism refers to a belief that one's ethnic group or race is superior to those of others (Zaharna et.al, 2014). Within this ideological framework, a person will tend to judge others groups about their particular culture or ethnic group especially concerning to behaviors, language, religion, and customs. Thus, the only way to understand a different culture is through respecting and accommodation all the two cultures the way they are (Shafee and Rhode, 2016). Cultural relativism is a belief that values and concept of culture cannot be fully understood. In other words, cultural relativism suggests that individual activities and beliefs sh...