Culture in Conflict

Events

Culture in Conflict

Event date: 20 June 2012
Event end date: 21 June 2012

Location: Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham

Background

Culture is a fundamental ingredient of life. Whoever we are, we all see things through the lenses of our culture. It gives us attitudes, expectations and assumptions that seem natural -so natural that we do not notice. But different groups have different cultures, and that's where the trouble starts when groups find themselves in contact with each other. People’s cultural differences can blind them to the other person's or group's point of view, leading to poor communication and to misunderstandings (sometimes lethal). Culture therefore has a profound effect on the successful conduct of military operations, which inevitably involve people - lots of them. And more often than not the people come from different backgrounds.

Themes

This conference explores two major and complementary themes: the Military's need to understand the nature of culture and its effects on operations, and the potential contribution of those who study culture to improve that understanding. These themes are entwined so that each feeds off and informs the other. It is therefore of interest both to those who plan and execute military operations and to those who are interested in the study of culture and in the practical application of cultural studies.

Having concentrated largely on current operations over the first three years of this symposium, mainly in Iraq and Afghanistan, last year we decided to look ahead under the title ‘Afghanistan and Beyond’. This year we are encouraging delegates to take an extra step, and to attempt to look further into the future in the light of developing world events and a generally shrinking investment in Defence. For example, what lessons have the military and academics learned so far about the operational significance of cultural understanding? How can these lessons be carried forward into the unknown? What will be the place of cultural understanding and awareness in a training regime where resources are squeezed and future cultures of interest are unknown? How should cultural expertise be organized for future conflicts in unknown places? The Symposium subtitle this year is therefore ‘Looking into an Uncertain Future’.

Topics to be covered.

Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria to Papua New Guinea: Challenges and an Uncertain Future
MDA Information Systems (supporting MCIA), USA and Defence Geographic Centre

‘It Works Like This – He’s a Warlord’: Engaging and Negotiating Key Power Brokers in Southern Afghanistan
Warwick University

Never Underestimate the Power of Stupid People in Large Groups
Department of National Defence, Canadian Forces

A Decade of Conflict in the Muslim World; Strategic Lessons for the Decade Ahead
Dysart Consulting Limited

Nudging Towards Stability: Understanding Socio-Political Organisation for Counterinsurgency
University of Cambridge

Advanced Cultural Competence
CCOE, The Netherlands

Training Courage in the United States Marine Corps
Professional Solutions LLC/US Marine Corps Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning

Changing the Way We Think - Killing the "Lack of Capacity"- Perception
Understanding Culture, Denmark

Systemic Challenges to US Population-focused Intelligence Support to Counterinsurgency and Stability Operations: Learning from Iraq and Afghanistan
National Defense University, Washington DC, USA

Citing Sources: Analogical Reasoning and Complex Operating Environments
Thessiger and Company Limited

Understanding Narratives in Conflict
Nous Insights

Working with Interpreters
USAF, Culture & Language Centre

A Social Scientists’ Perspective on the Evolution of Engagement at the US Africa Command
US Africa Command

SCIL: A Framework for Interactions with Local Nationals in an Intercultural Setting
TNO, The Netherlands

Role Switching as Operational Tool for Engagement with Local Nationals
TNO, The Netherlands

The Effectiveness of Cross-Cultural Competence. Empirical Findings from a Panel Study Among German Soldiers in Afghanistan
Bundeswehr Institute of Social Sciences, Germany

How can you contribute?

Priority will be given to papers that address the Symposium subtitle. However, papers are also invited on all subjects connecting military and cultural issues, including, for example, what are the military/cultural interfaces in humanitarian and disaster relief, peace keeping and stabilization operations? How can these interfaces be managed by civilian and by military organizations working in the same area?

The following other areas have been suggested, but the list is not exhaustive:

Military experiences of culture; the effects of differing cultures in operations (including cooperation with allies, host nations, NGOs, local people and institutions) as well as the military need to understand culture better.
The social science perspective including views on the social science contribution to the improvement of cultural understanding.
Experiences from the field from both military and social science perspectives.
Cultural issues in transforming from conscript to professional military structures, and their potential effect on operations.