The Intercultural Competences of Diplomats Necessities and Lacks.

The Intercultural Competences of

DiplomatsNecessities and Lacks

The Intercultural Competences of Diplomats - DPI Konstanz - September 2007 - Stephanie Frei

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Structure

1. Intercultural Competence and Diplomacy Intercultural Competence (IC) International Diplomatic Culture

2. Needs Analysis for IC Development for Indonesian Diplomats

Background Methodology Limitations and Recommendations


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Intercultural Competence

“Intercultural competence is the ability to interact effectively and appropriately with members of other cultures in fulfilling certain objectives.” (freely adapted from Gelbrich 2004)

Worldwork’s international competences 10 key competences 22 dimensions The International Profiler


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Types of Intercultural Encounters

Length of Contact

Tourists

Short Long

Forced/ Involuntary

Happy/ Voluntary

Students

DiplomatsBusinesspeople

Refugees

Foreign Workers

Immigrants

(adapted from Furnham and Bochner (1986:56), as cited in Lustig and Koester (1993:13)


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“Relationships between different cultural and linguistic groups are at the heart of diplomacy (…).” Byram (1991:1)

Reasons for neglect: Soft skill Concept of an International Diplomatic

Culture

IC and Diplomacy


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Needs Analysis for ICD

Background 1,500 Indonesian diplomats Relations with 190 countries Elected member to 9 important

international organisations Are Indonesian diplomats interculturally

competent enough to do their job?


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Methodology

L PI OQ

What does intercultural competence include? xWhat competencies do diplomats need? > NEEDS x x xAre Indonesian diplomats interculturally competent enough? x xWhat intercultural competencies do Indonesian diplomats need to develop? > LACKS x xWhat is the preferred design of a development programme? x x x


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Methodology

Defining intercultural competence Literature review Pre-interviews

10 diplomats (5 male, 5 female) 4 Junior diplomats 3 Mid-career diplomats 3 Senior diplomats

Main study online questionnaire


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Main Study

Obtaining valid and reliable data for the development of content and design of an intercultural competence development programme

Sample 40 respondents 29 complete responses

65.5%= Junior diplomats 17.2%= Mid-career diplomats 13.8%= Senior diplomats 24% have existing knowledge


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Main Study

Instrument = SurveyMonkey

Structure Introduction Important intercultural competencies for

diplomats Need for intercultural competence development Preferred design of a possible intercultural

competence development programme Personal data


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Limitations of Main Study

Choice of instrument Stamina of respondents Lack of practical support on the part

of CET Small number of participants Dominance of the Junior diplomats’

answers


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Recommendations

Selection procedure that takes into consideration all components of intercultural competence important in diplomacy

Develop a training module for the diplomats’ spouses

Conduct the training in a multicultural environment

Platform for Indonesian diplomats to seek advice on-site help, online assistance


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Next steps

Needs analysis serves as basis for further research

or

Needs analysis serves as starting point for pilot devlopment programme


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Developing People Internationally

Thank you for your attention!Terima kasih atas perhatian Anda!

http://www.deplu.go.idhttp://indonesiatoday.wordpress.com


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Annex


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The International Profiler

1. Openness2. Flexibility3. Personal autonomy4. Emotional strength5. Perceptiveness6. Listening orientation7. Transparency8. Cultural knowledge

9. Influencing10. Synergy


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International Diplomatic Culture

Common language and behaviour

“They are able to communicate across different languages, different cultures, and perhaps different sets of psychological assumptions and get to the heart of complicated issues. Rarely, if ever, are wars fought over misunder standings between diplomats.” Langholtz (2004: 14)


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International Diplomatic Culture

Relevance of this concept? Increase in number of states Changing role of non-governmental actors New big players in world politics Non-diplomats conducting diplomacy

Homogeneity? Impact compared to national culture Changing role of a diplomat (Hofstede 2004)

The Intercultural Competences of Diplomats Necessities and Lacks.

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