Ethnicity and Nationality

I don t like the word ethnicity . I think it sounds like a new form of ecologically correct energy: Have you seen my new car? It runs on ethnicity. It is, in fact, a relatively new word, just over fifty years old, and is shorthand for a group of people s racial, religious, and linguistic identities. I guess ethnicity came into being in part because of the sinister associations of the word race (think race riots, race laws, racial superiority), but if we use this word, and many people use it unwillingly, we are in fact talking about the physical signs of ethnicity.

Clues to your ethnic and racial background can be found in your skin color , your stature, and a host of other physical features that can be a remarkably accurate indication of your ancestry. My husband comes from a large island off the west coast of Sweden, where his family farmed the same patch of ground for seven generations. One day when he was a teenager he was visiting friends in the north of the island, about ten miles away. The boys were playing together when an old woman walked past and asked the lads where they came from. My husband (an inventive teenager) said that he came from the next village, but she took a quick look at him and told him to save his breath . She could see by the shape of his head, the length of his neck, and the way he walked exactly where he came from, and proceeded to place him within a half mile of his own little farm at the other end of the island.

Now because of easier communications, intermarriage, and mass migration, a person s appearance no longer says as much about his or her geographical origins. It s not surprising that the word race has begun to sound a little old-fashioned, because appearance tells us less and less about the national and ethnic roots of an individual.

That doesn t stop it from being a problem, though. When I talk to second-generation immigrants, whether British people of Irish or Pakistani descent, or Germans with Polish or Turkish parents, the individuals who have experienced the most problems being accepted by their fellow Brits or Germans are those who don t look like the ethnic majority. This is strange , for in the cases I m thinking of, these people s education, language patterns, and even sporting affinities have been identical with that of their white neighbors. The children of the ethnic Irish and German immigrants have been easily accepted into the new cultures, presumably because they blended into the background more easily. Most countries have legislation in place that is designed to stop racial discrimination, but the simple fact that such legislation is necessary says a lot about how individuals react to people who don t look the same as they do.

Religion is also an important part of the ethnic picture. Few people show outward signs of their religious affiliations; Hasidic Jewish men with payos (side curls) and untrimmed beards, Sikhs with turbans, and Muslim women in the West wearing burkhas are the exceptions rather than the rule. However, religious beliefs and traditions certainly affect us in whatever country we find ourselves . These differences might be easy to identify and accommodate, like different holidays and religious festivals, or they may put us at odds with the culture in which we live. For example, strict Catholic medical staff from Ireland who work in England refuse to perform abortions, which are perfectly legal in the U.K., and some traditional Jordanian Muslims living in Germany believe that honor killings of their female relations are a religious duty if the girls break Islamic law.

But sometimes your new colleague s ethnic background is not revealed until she opens her mouth, and you hear English spoken with a Nigerian accent or French with a Marseilles accent . How we speak, and indeed what we speak, reflect our ethnic identities.

Sometimes it s a mixture of all three elements of ethnicity ”race, religion, and language ”that divides people into groups, but given the human propensity for conflict, differences in just one of the three can provide people with the excuse to label the other group as ignorant, arrogant , blasphemous, or just about any other unpleasant adjective you can think of. Millions of individuals have died because one or more of the elements of their ethnic identity have been found objectionable by people of another ethnicity. If one more ingredient, nationality, is added to this already potent mixture, it can become truly explosive.

The relationship between ethnicity and nationality is an uneasy one. In large countries like the U.S., Russia, and China, nationality overrides deep ethnic divisions with varying degrees of success. Twenty years ago when I taught in the tiny nation of Singapore, teachers and students alike were required to swear before school every morning that we were part of one united people, regardless of race, language, or religion. The government knew from experience that when people are happy with their own and their neighbors ethnic and national identities, life goes on as usual. But if there is a conflict between the two, bloodshed may result. In the Second World War the fact that people were Germans did not save them from extermination if they also happened to be Jewish. It also led to the destruction of a nation ”Yugoslavia ”as the country tore itself into ethnic groups.

Our ethnic background and nationality are part of what makes us what we are. But they are not the only part. Wherever two people come from, if they make the effort to get to know each other they will find there is more that unites them than divides them.

LETTER 125

Most of us are proud of our nationality. However, nationalism is something that can cause problems.

Nationality as a problem Letter 125

FROM THE U.S. ABOUT MEXICO

I feel the people I am working with here are really negative toward me because I m a U.S. American. They don t actually say Yankee, go home, but it certainly feels like they d like to. Is there any way to overcome this sort of hostility ?

If you look at the relations between your countries from a historical perspective, you will understand it s probably not you as a person who elicits this hostile reaction but something in the history of your two countries that causes it. And sometimes a country doesn t actually need to do anything to be unpopular. Being richer, bigger, or more powerful than another nation is enough to make others envious until another nation takes over the role. (The British, the world power in the nineteenth century, are still trying to come to terms with their new role as citizens of just another medium- sized European nation.)

It s not a comfortable situation if you feel you are being required to apologize for or defend your country when abroad. However, like it or not, when you are there you are acting as both your country s and your company s representative, so try to reflect the positive aspects of your culture while respecting local feelings. Try to avoid political and religious discussions, and try to keep cool and patient in the face of criticism even if you do find it unjust. If things go too far and you feel yourself or your country under some sort of verbal attack, keep calm, ask for a break, and explain that you don t want to continue the discussion.

Do a little research into the history, art, sports, or famous sights of the country so you have an alternative topic to switch to in social situations if things get sticky. Take the time to build personal relationships, so that those who may not have met any people from your country before, and who have acquired their knowledge of the U.S. from the media, get a positive impression of you and the nation you represent.

LETTERS 126 “127

The relationship between nationality and ethnicity is not clear-cut any longer.

Joint identity Letter 126

FROM POLAND ABOUT BRAZIL

I have had increasing contact with Brazil and have been surprised to come across a couple of people with Japanese-sounding names . Is this common?

It s certainly not unusual. Brazil contains a wonderful mixture of different ethnic groups, including the largest community of Japanese outside Japan. Japanese immigrants started settling in Brazil in 1907 and are now found mainly in the cities of the south (with 75 percent of them in S & pound ;o Paulo).

But the Japanese are only one of many immigrant groups. Although most Brazilians of European descent have Portuguese ancestry, substantial German and Italian communities also exist. Some of these groups have retained their own language and culture, while at the same time speaking fluent Brazilian Portuguese and adopting a Brazilian lifestyle. With its African, Asian, European, and indigenous roots, Brazil must be one of the most racially mixed countries in the world.

People of color Letter 127

FROM SWEDEN ABOUT THE U.S.

I work in the HR department of a medium-sized multinational, and we have created a new employment policy that describes our commitment to diversity. When we got the document back from the U.S. American translators we saw the expression people of color, which I have never seen before and find very odd.

The translator has not made a mistake. It is simply the most recent in a long line of terms used to describe people from non-European ethnic backgrounds. When I was a child in England my mother used the term colored people , which was then considered more polite than black . Later black became preferable (although I have always thought it a strange word to choose to describe skin that might be only the palest caf au lait). In the U.S. this was followed by African American , which in turn has been superseded by person of color , a term that includes anyone who is not white. (This is, of course, another inaccurate word. E. M. Forster said it would be more accurate to call the Caucasian race pinko-grey. )

Language like everything else has its fashions , but if the language isn t your own it is difficult to keep up with the latest trend, or in this case, the most politically correct version, and you are right to double-check on the appropriateness of the expression. So you can relax and use it in your HR policy knowing that your company is implying that it is up-to-date and diversity conscious. (Unfortunately, though, there are few companies where the reality lives up to the company blurb. )

LETTER 128

While stereotypes about nationality or ethnic groups are dangerous, there may be broad similarities in the way members of the same cultures act in certain situations.

Ethnic and national rivalry Letter 128

FROM CANADA ABOUT RUSSIA

We are starting to work with some businesspeople from Russia and met them for the first time in Moscow. We were surprised, though, to learn that some of them were not Russians but introduced themselves as Moldovans and Chechens.

The full name for Russia is the Russian Federation, and it is an enormous multinational state made up of people from many nations or ethnic groups, many of which have distinctive languages and traditions. Nationality and religion are closely related in Russia, so Chechnya is mainly Muslim, whereas Moldova is Orthodox Christian. Nationality is, in fact, stated on each Russian citizen s identity card and is something that all Russians are very conscious of, so the people you met obviously thought of themselves as Moldovan or Chechen first and second (if at all) as Russian. It is important for foreigners to know that ethnic and local consciousness is increasing within the Russian Federation, with actual or potential conflict as a result.

LETTERS 129 “130

Whether we are religious or not, we cannot avoid being influenced to a greater or lesser extent by the religion(s) of our native culture.

Religious requirements Letter 129

FROM THE U.K. ABOUT INDIA

We are about to open a production facility in Northern India. We want to encourage diversity in our company, including religious diversity. What kind of measures will we have to take to meet employees different requirements?

India is a vast country with many ethnic and religious groups. Most of its population, however, is Hindu, so you may have to pay attention to the caste system. Discriminating against a person based on his or her caste or untouchability is legally forbidden, and the government also allows positive discrimination in favor of lower castes. In cities you can see different castes mingling with each other, but in some rural areas there is still discrimination, and sometimes there are violent clashes connected to caste tensions.

Problems can sometimes arise if, for example, someone from the wrong caste works in the kitchen preparing food (which would make it inedible to many other employees) or if you employ people from widely different castes to work closely together. And on the subject of food, it is extremely important that dietary laws are observed , so when McDonald s opened restaurants in India it sold mutton burgers (although undoubtedly gave them a more appealing name) rather than risk offending its Hindu and Muslim customers for whom beef and pork are forbidden. Consult with local companies there for details. Apart from that, you should also do your homework regarding local religious holidays and festivals.

India also contains a sizeable Muslim and Sikh population and a smaller Christian one. If you are employing Muslims, you should reserve a room with washing facilities nearby for prayer, and be prepared to allow flexible hours for mosque visits on Fridays. Naturally, you will allow religiously prescribed clothing to be worn at work ”for example, the Sikh turban and the Muslim woman s headscarf.

An excuse for laziness Letter 130

FROM THE U.K. ABOUT SPAIN

We do a lot of business in various parts of Spain, but are always hearing that they can t do something because they re having a religious festival. The Spanish people I know aren t particularly religious and I feel that religion is often used as an excuse for laziness.

The U.K. today is a very secular society with low rates of churchgoing and observance of religious traditions. However, you should not assume that everyone else shares your views on the unimportance of religion. Certainly the days in Spain are gone when everyone attended Mass on Sundays, but the observance of holy days is still an important aspect of life. The same applies in Italy and Latin America, all prominently Catholic countries. And it is certainly not laziness to prioritize participation in a religious or communal celebration over work.

Even if you don t think of yourself as religious, religion affects the values of the society we live in, and we are all social animals. In Catholic countries, where people work hard but see work as a part of life rather than its most important constituent , people talk about Protestant North Americans or Northern Europeans as living to work rather than working to live, and that is not necessarily a compliment. Certainly the Protestant ethic with its belief in the virtue of hard work helped shape the economic success of the richest and most powerful nation in the world, the U.S. However, people in Catholic countries are likely to think that leisure time is just as important as money. So in addition to their thirty vacation days (the British get twenty), Spaniards enjoy fifteen days off for national holidays as well as local fiestas. I can understand that all this free time might be irritating to you in the U.K., but it is important you show a respect for local traditions if you are to establish a good working relationship with your Spanish partners .

IN A NUTSHELL: Ethnicity and Nationality

For notes on the religions of these countries, see the Nutshell listing in the section Calendars and Holidays in Chapter 5. For information on the languages spoken in these countries, see the section A Global Language in Chapter 4.

GLOBAL BUSINESS WARNING

Questions on international or inter-ethnic disputes, race, and religion are subjects not to discuss when chatting with people from other cultures, even if you know them well.

Argentina: People of Spanish and Italian origin (also German, English, and Welsh) predominate among immigrant groups. In the north there is a larger indigenous presence. (See Letter 130.)
Australia: A nation of immigrants, except for the native Australians (Aborigines), Australia has a multi-ethnic population, but those with European origins hold most power.
Austria: Immigrants and guest workers from Eastern Europe might pose a big problem when the European Union forces all its member states, including Austria, to remove restrictions on foreign workers from other EU states (probably in 2010). Geographically, Austria is closest to these poorer countries and fears a tidal wave of immigration .
Belgium: Flemish and French are the main ethnic (linguistic) groups. There is also a German-speaking minority. There are strict language laws to ensure political fairness.
Brazil: This is a multi-ethnic country, with Portuguese, West African, and indigenous ancestry most common. (See Letters 126 and 130.)
Canada: There is an English-speaking majority, a large powerful French-speaking minority, and a large Asian community. There are strict language laws to protect the status of the French language. (See Letter 130.)
China: This is a multi-ethnic country, with many spoken Chinese dialects, although Mandarin Chinese has been adopted as the common language. There are attempts to integrate ethnic minorities (e.g., the Kazaks and Turkic peoples) into mainstream Chinese culture.
Denmark: The country had a very homogenous population until relatively recently. The influx of political and economic refugees has led to some tension. (See Letter 130.)
Finland: See Austria. The population is quite homogenous (although there is a well-established Swedish-speaking minority), and this may lead to an ignorance about, and suspicion of, non-white foreigners. (See Letter 130.)
France: A multi-ethnic country (it had French colonies in North Africa), but ethnic tensions do arise between the immigrant population and other citizens from time to time.
Germany: See Austria. Large numbers of Turks came as guest workers and stayed. Generally, non-European immigrants are not welcomed. (See Letter 130.)
Hong Kong: An ethnically Chinese population with a large white minority.
India: An enormous multi-ethnic country (with a multireligious, multilingual, and multiracial population). The Indian states are divided by linguistic lines. Most Indians are bilingual or multilingual. (See Letter 129.)
Indonesia: The majority of ethnic Indonesians are Muslims, but there is a comparatively wealthy and influential ethnic Chinese minority and a small indigenous population.
Italy: Italians have strong regional loyalties. There has been a recent influx of immigrants from Balkan states. (See Letter 130.)
Japan: The population has been and remains homogenous. This can lead to an ignorance about and suspicion of foreigners. South Korean immigrants to Japan have not been fully accepted. (See Letter 126.)
Mexico: Over 80 percent of the population has some mixture of Spanish and indigenous blood. There is a lot of emigration to the neighboring U.S. (See Letters 125 and 130.)
Netherlands: A multi-ethnic country (there was a Dutch colony in Indonesia, and people from Morocco and Turkey came to work in the 1970s). It is estimated that by 2010, 15 percent of the population will be of non-Dutch origin. (See Letter 130.)
Norway: See Japan. (See Letter 130.)
Poland: The vast majority of Poland s people, over 90 percent, are of Polish origin. The remainder are of German, Ukrainian, or Belorussian descent. (See Letter 126.)
Russia: An enormous multinational state made up of people from many nations. Each nation is really an ethnic group, distinguished by racial, linguistic, and religious differences. There are some inter-ethnic tensions. (See Letter 128.)
Saudi Arabia: This is a strictly religious (Muslim) culture. The large and wealthy Saudi elite is supported by mainly imported labor from Europe, the U.S., and Asia. (See Letter 129.)
South Africa: The rainbow nation, it is multi-ethnic with citizens of European (British and Dutch-German, i.e., Boer), African (Zulu and Xhosa), and Asian ancestry. Even though political power is in the hands of the black majority, economic power is mostly in white hands. Affirmative action programs mean more non-whites are entering management.
South Korea: See Japan.
Spain: There is a strong regional awareness that has given rise to a vociferous (and violent) Basque separatist movement. (See Letter 130.)
Sweden: The population has been homogenous until relatively recently. Now, 1.5 million people out of the total population of 9 million are immigrants or have at least one parent who was an immigrant. The influx of political and economic refugees has led to some tension. (See Letters 127 and 130.)
Switzerland: Large numbers of guest workers have moved to Switzerland from poorer countries. It has proved very hard for them to be granted Swiss citizenship.
Taiwan: Taiwanese are mostly ethnically Chinese, with a small (2 percent) indigenous population.
Thailand: The country has been an Asian crossroads and is used to absorbing immigrants from other Asian nations. It has a relatively prosperous ethnic Chinese minority that has been well integrated into the Thai culture.
Turkey: The country s largest minority are the Kurds. The use of the Kurdish language is discouraged but it is no longer forbidden. There is a widespread Turkish suspicion of its Kurdish minority. (See Letter 129.)
UK: Made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, each of which has varying degrees of autonomy. It has been multi-ethnic for over fifty years, with immigrants coming from former colonies in the Indian subcontinent, Africa, and the West Indies. Ethnic tensions arise from time to time. (See Letters 125, 129, and 130.)
US: The original melting pot, the U.S. has a multi-ethnic population with large and well-established African American and Asian American minorities. The continuing numbers of Spanish-speaking immigrants from Latin America make the Hispanic population the biggest minority. Ethnic tensions arise from time to time. (See Letters 125, 127, and 130.)
Venezuela: Venezuela has a higher percentage of people with African descent than any other South American nation. Between 65 and 90 percent of Venezuelans are pardo , a combination of Indian, African, and European descent. (See Letter 130.)