International Studies- Half Yearly

WHAT IS CULTURE?

"Culture is a wide variety of factors that make up our lifestyle, what we eat, how we dress and behave. It is a set viewpoint we see things based on our upbringing and experiences..."

Expanding on a topicIt is: an acquired sight we see through common values that bind us together shared beliefs, values and ideas how we see ourselves and others diversity in cultural traits, values and beliefs

IDENTITY

What is identity?

"A person's view and conveyance of their self-identity or their self in affiliation with other groups..."

Your identity can be classed under five different categories:

INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY

FAMILY IDENTITY

RELIGIOUS IDENTITY

CULTURAL IDENTITY

SOCIAL IDENTITY

Is the way we see ourselves and is closely related to our self image. It affects the way we feel about ourselves and how we behave in challenging situations

A fundamental group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.Family identity is an effective way to instil children with a sense of permanence, belonging and stability, paving the road for raising confident, independent, moral children

A person's religious identity is the name of religion that they identify themselves. It is a sense of belonging within a religious sect

A belonging to a group that pertains to certain customs, language and morals

The belonging the a group that share a common ground of interests, point of conversation, or other means

WHAT IS IT?

Characteristics that are shared world-wide Belonging to a global community- harmony with others Finding a common ground with the rest of the world

WORLD ISSUES WE FACE

Poverty Famine Racism Global Warming Violence Terrorism

FINDING THE LINK

Having a global identity decreases racism as we realise 'we are one' Global identity is the concept of belonging to the global community. It is finding a common ground with the rest of the world that establishes a sense of belonging with the rest of the world

MY RESPONSE

"Define 'global identity' and how building a world identity will solve one of the global problems we face."

Global identity, is the concept in which we are a member of the global community and the feeling of identifying one’s self beyond their nation and with the rest of the planet. It is important we understand and acknowledge as well as develop our global identity as it could stop one of the world’s most tentative issues, racism. With an understanding of global identity and acknowledging that everyone is the same and that by belonging they are accepting the fact that ‘everyone shares more similarities than differences’ it would drive a campaign to stop racism. Slowly but surely, if everyone understood the concept of global identity, racism would cease to exist as there would be no reason to racially discriminate one another. If people would situate themselves as having a global identity than a national identity, there would not be an incredible sense of patriotism and there would be no need to argue over who the ‘first people’ were which are the two main causes for racism. People would realise that the land belongs to the world and that they belong to the world which would stop racism gradually. Rather than developing a world identity, we should first acknowledge and understand that ‘we are one’ and eradicate a sense of detachment from the rest of the world due to being a member of a nation. Before we can develop our identity on a global scale it is important to first realise that having a world identity entails characteristics that create a common ground between every member of our society today- this means no racial discrimination. ‘We are one’ therefore there is no need to racially discriminate over your own people, which in this sense, is the entire global community.    

SUMMARISING IN POINTS

A fundamental understanding of global identity is the first step to eradicating racism Global identity- belonging to the world- a common ground with the rest of the planet A campaign that teaches people that 'we are one' will cease arguments over landownership as it 'belongs to the world' which will ultimately stop racism Targets the main factors for racism which is 'to go back to where they came from' and a sense of patriotism which would not exist if the world understood what a global identity was and put it into practice

CONTEMPORARY ISSUE

"NIGERIA KIDNAPPINGS: NATION DECLARES WAR"

"NIGERIAN SCHOOLGIRLS KIDNAPPED"

"2014 CHIBOK KIDNAPPINGS"

Issue, event, scenario ·         300 Nigerian school girls kidnapped during their exam—a terrorist attack against Western education for girls ·         Focus of enquiry; the reason behind the kidnappings to which are a social cultural problem that needs ‘cultural change’ ·         Alleged videos show evidence of fear and 100 of the kidnapped 300 ·         Video talks about the release of the kidnapped girls if all prisoners apart of the terrorist organisation are released ·         The video claims that the terrorists were ‘against Western education’ and that girls should ‘go and get married’

Stakeholders ·         The kidnapped girls- fear of death, being sold off ·         The parents of the kidnapped- emotional trauma, waiting for assistance ·         The government- bad press for being ‘sluggish’, funds and people risked to look for them ·         Boko Haram- the organiser of such a feat of which held strong values that went against what was going on

                                                                                                                                                                Stakeholders ·         The kidnapped girls- fear of death, being sold off ·         The parents of the kidnapped- emotional trauma, waiting for assistance ·         The government- bad press for being ‘sluggish’, funds and people risked to look for them ·         Boko Haram- the organiser of such a feat of which held strong values that went against what was going on

Different Views or perspectives of stakeholders: ·         The main conflicting factor between the three major stakeholders affected by this event is their different views and perspectives regarding religion and cultural beliefs. ·         Boko Haram’s belief: Boko Haram’s belief is mainly evident in the initial meaning of their group name which is ‘Western Education is Sinful’. This conflicted with the beliefs of the teenage girls studying in a school in Northern Nigeria. The conflicts between the two perspectives of the two stakeholders have led to the kidnapping of approximately 300 teenage school girls in order to prevent further westernisation in education.

                                                                                                                                                        Back ground Information ·         Nigerian Islamist Extreme Group ‘Boko Haram’- An Islamist extreme group who do not believe in ‘Western education’ ·         Believes that any Muslim that divulges into western thinking and activities associeated with western culture ·         Their names means ‘western education is forbidden’ ·         Believes western education ‘corrupts the moral values of Islam’

AFFECTS

Who I make friends with- common interests How I react in certain situations

Governs my thinking- father encouraged free speech of mindWho I look up to for advice- my parents and older sisterWho I get along well with- not brother

                                      - What I eat                                       - What I do- I pray five times a day                                       - My priorities                                       - My thought processes- what I define as moral immoral                                       - What I wear- covering up the aurat

What I eatWhat I do- I pray five times a dayMy prioritiesMy thought processes- what I define as moral immoralWhat I wear- covering up the aurat

my interests, dislikes, what I watch, what I do

How I act towards certain peopleMy preferences with foodWhat I listen toMy social group

EXAMPLES

Liking anime and manga and forging friendships in that way Shy in unfamiliar people- uncomfortable in certain situation

A strict upbringing has made children either very mannered or rebellious- in two different cases and circumstances A parent's view can be transposed to the child- Romeo and Juliet- whose family's brought them up to hate the other family

Muslim have to cover themselves accordingly Certain celebrations that hold religious meaning 

Social groups can expose us to different things- may not have listened to a certain music but certain social groups expose us to it Pressuring of the right and wrong kinds along with exposure

Certain cultures emphasise utter respect for elders; e.g- bowing

Culture and IDENTITY

global identity and world issues

CULTURE AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES