Cultural Awareness

Afghanistan

Outline

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•History•Ethnic Groups•Pashtunwali Code•Economics•Education & Leadership•Socialization•Behavior in a Meeting•Verbal Communication•Non-Verbal Communication•Public Protocol•Do & Don’ts

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History

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3000 BC-2000 BC• Ancient Afghanistan serves as a crossroads between

Mesopotamia and other civilizations.

2000 – 1500• City of Kabul is established

522 BC - 486 BC• Persian Rule

329 BC - 150 BC • Greek Rule (Alexander the Great)

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Ancient Crossroads

Islamic History6

652 - Introduction of Islam (peaceful expansion)

962 -1186: Ghaznavid Dynasty• Turkic people centered in Ghazni• Introduced Dari language & Persian culture• Ghazni becomes trade and arts center• Base for Islamic expansion into India & Pakistan

1210 – Mongol Invasion

1227 – 1330: Territorial rule by Mongol chiefs

1206 – 1526: Delhi Sultanate rules parts of Afghanistan

Modern History

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1747-1826: Durrani Empire• Beginning of the modern Afghan state & Pashtun

ruling class

(1839-1852) : (1878-1880) : (1919)

• Anglo-Afghan Wars (Great Game)

1978-1988• Afghan Soviet War

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

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1989-1996• Civil war for control of Afghan territories• Taliban capture Kandahar (1994)• Consist mainly of madrassa educated Pashtuns

1996-2001• Taliban take control of majority of country• Al-Qaeda joins fight against Northern Alliance• Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (September 1996)

Ethnic Groups

•Pashtuns•Tajiks•Hazara•Uzbeks•Aimaqs•Nuristani•Baluchi•Turkmen•Kirghiz

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Pashtun

• Largest ethnic group (13 million/40%)

• Taliban was Pashtun led

•Originally an Iranian tribe

•Southern & eastern part of the country

•Dominate ruling group – past & present

•Sunni Muslims

•Speak Pashto or Dari

(location dependent)

Pashtunwali Code•Standard of behavior centered on honor & shame•Thousands year-old Pashtun cultural practice•Often supersedes religious practices

Honor Bravery Justice/Revenge

Zeal Courage Sanctuary

Truce Hospitality Protection

Tribal Organization13

Tribal Organization14

Tajiks

•2nd Largest ethnic group (8.4 million/25%)

•NE part of Afghanistan

•Persian ancestry

•Sunni Muslims/speak Dari

•Northern Alliance

Hazara

•Large Shiite Muslim group (2.8 million/10%)

•Settled in the Hindu Kush mountains

•History of oppression

•Speak Hazagari (Farsi)

•Mongol descent

•Northern Alliance

Uzbeks

•Turkic group (2.8 million/8%)

•Descendents of Turkic invasion (1000 AD)

•Settled in the northern farming regions

•Northern Alliance

•Sunni Muslim/speak Uzbek & Dari

Aimaqs

•Multiple ethnic groups (1.25 million)

•Turkics, Hazars, Baluchi, & Aimaq settled together

•Sunni Muslim farmers & herders

•Located in western Afghanistan

Tribal Democracy

•Two types of tribal counsels:

•Shura - informal

•Jirga - formal

•Any man had the opportunity to be heard

•Hierarchal structure: eldest son from first wife

Economy Overview

• Extremely poor, landlocked, dependent on foreign aid

• Shortage of housing, sanitation, medical, or economic infrastructure and personnel

• GDP: $700 (2008), Labor force: 15 million (2004)

• Agriculture: 80%, Industry: 10%, Services: 10% (2004)

• Wheat and cereal production along with fruit and nuts

• Wealth of natural resources, recently projected at $1 trillion worth of mineral reserves

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Economic Factors

Soviet invasion & civil war impacts• infrastructure / agricultural / trade• labor / job availability / reconstruction efforts• safety & security

Internal conflicts hamper reconstruction

Security & corruption influences

Agriculture dependent

Education/Leadership

• Formal Education lacking / Outstanding Intelligence - most Afghans historically illiterate/improvement lately - 10k+ schools: 1/3 female students - lack of quality teachers

•Scholars/educators are held in high regard- Bring honor to the family/tribe

•Religious credentials often determine leadership

•History is localized & biased by experience

•Religious leaders are considered infallible

Socialization & Etiquette

• Households consist of man, wife, sons with families & unmarried daughters

• Child care shared between female family members

• Youth address elders by title

• Nicknames commonly used

• Everyone stands & greets someone entering the room• Specifics or factual questions should come after a

thorough time of casual conversation

Meeting Behavior

•Arrive on time but expect to wait

•Greet everyone in the room; seniors first

•Rise if senior enters or exits the room•Handshake may be soft/limp

- conveys formality & humbleness

•Accept tea and finger food

•Expect “small talk”•Expect deference/silence when a topic is difficult or

confrontational

Personal Interaction

•Conduct business with the senior male

•Converse with men in mixed-gender meetings•Do NOT shake hands with engagement attendees of

the opposite gender•Expect hugs or 3 kisses once a relationship is

established

“First meeting, a stranger; second meeting, a brother”

Verbal Communication

• Loudness conveys anger or domination

•Remember to pause for translation

•Do not expect immediate answers/decisions

•Expect non-committal or vague answers

Non-Verbal Communication

•Right hand is clean / left hand is unclean•Palm on right hand of your heart is a sign of respect /

sincerity / appreciation

•Holding hands & hugging conveys friendship

•Showing emotions conveys weakness

Public Protocol

•Show a picture of your children vs. your wife/girlfriend

•Taboos include the left-hand or sole of the foot•Avoid showing open affection with the opposite

sex•Western women not expected to wear head

covering (hijab); it is appreciated•Breaking wind/blowing your nose in front of

someone is rude

Religious Customs

•Working mosques are closed to non-Muslims unless invited or escorted

•Always remove shows if in a mosque

•Men and women pray in separate places•Face west (towards Mecca) during prayer –

try not to walk in front of•Refer to Mohammad as “Prophet Mohammad” –

add “Peace be upon him”

Good Practice

•Never attempt to interrupt prayers.• If you must pass a man praying, pass at a

respectful distance.•Do not walk between a man praying and Mecca-

always walk behind him.

Keep direction of Mecca in mind

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Good Practice

Be considerate during Ramadan• Do not eat or drink in public or offer food/water• Take your meal or drink privately

Do not touch Qurans or prayer rugs• If giving these as gifts to local Mosques, let

Afghan government personnel handle them

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Don’t Do This!

•Use the left hand for physical contact, eating, or gestures

•Sit with the soles of your feet facing someone•Show a woman attention by addressing or touching

her•Walk away from someone speaking to you•Express emotion in public•Beckon or point with a finger•Wear sunglasses indoors•Consume food or drink during Ramadan

Don’t Do This!

•Ask a man direct questions about his female relatives

•Expect time awareness/punctuality from an Afghan•Expect Afghans to be able to read•Tell an Afghan he is wrong•Tell an Afghan you know he is lying

Do This!•Shake hands in greeting & departure•Try all food offered•Expect to socialize vs. getting “down to business”•Recognize the host of an event and their effort•Recognize someone with a title

- doctor/engineer/professor•Expect Afghans to have a different sense of time

- Tasks will be completed according to God’s will• Give a gift in return for one received

Summary

•Geographic impact on culture•Historical views & memories shape culture•Self/Group identification•Conflict factors•Social aspects•Formal/Informal interactions•Cultural Practices

•http://www.nps.edu/programs/ccs/

Conclusion

Recognize the area you will be a GUEST in.