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.