4 Working Towards More Effective Negotiations

4.4 The Role of Culture in Humanitarian Negotiations

In the context of humanitarian negotiations, culture has been defined as“the socially transmitted values, beliefs and symbols that are more or less shared by members of a social group.” 38 These values, beliefs and symbols, and their expression or utilization, can be powerful influencing factors in humanitarian negotiations.

Some of the facets of culture that can influence humanitarian negotiations with armed groups include:

  • Differences in cultural norms regarding social and formal communications and conduct of meetings;
  • Differences in cultural perspectives on substantive issues being considered;
  • Cultural precepts that may shape the behaviour of negotiating parties (bargaining; honor; commitment to an agreement, etc.);
  • Cultural views of authority, gender and social standing;
  • Disparities between cultural beliefs, customary law and international law.

“The Taliban are in fact the children of the Afghan countryside. A lot of their cultural and behavioural reflexes—their behaviour vis-a-vis women and children, for instance—are in fact archaic elements of a culture very deeply rooted in the society, and this was often overlooked by the Western negotiators.”

(Quote from interview with UNICEF staff member)

 

 

 

 

To mitigate the potential for cultural influences and considerations to complicate humanitarian negotiations with armed groups, humanitarian negotiators should:

1. Learn about the cultural background of the armed group and armed group negotiator.

Don't assume a particular cultural stereotype, as most parties come to the table with a variety of cultural influences, not only the most widely perceived or expected ones.

Don't assume that the armed group knows your organization's cultural influences, either; exchange and share this type of information, rather than assuming it;

2. Be aware of cultural sensitivities associated with the process of negotiation. Don't expect the armed group to approach the process of negotiating with the same cultural viewpoint;

3. Identify possible areas of cultural differences that may impact on the substance of the negotiations. These differences may include, for example, cultural views on the role of women and children in society;

4. Be respectful of the other party's cultural perspectives without diminishing your humanitarian argument during the negotiation. Respecting the other party's perspective does not mean that the humanitarian negotiator has to agree with it, or let it override the humanitarian objectives of the negotiations;

5. Identify cultural similarities as a foundation for bridging cultural differences.

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38Avruch, Kevin, "Culture as Context, Culture as Communication: Considerations for Humanitarian Negotiators," Harvard Negotiation Law Review 391 (Spring 2004).

 

 
   
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