I was recently launched me into thinking much more about power and culture, especially related to communication. I was in an environment recently where some of these issues were on display quite vividly despite the best of intentions. I’m appreciating more and more how important it is for us to learn when we have power and learn how to use that in a way that empowers others, especially in cross-cultural contexts.
“What is interesting about power is that the methods of power are as diverse as they are widespread. That is to say, power is present in nearly every human experience, from global politics to face-to-face interactions between the dominant culture and co-cultures. Therefore, the dynamics of power greatly influence all phases of intercultural communication. Martin and Nakayama offer an excellent summary of this point when they note, ‘We are not equal in intercultural encounters, nor can we ever be equal. Long histories of imperialism, colonialism, exploitation, wars, genocide campaigns, and more leave cultural groups out of balance when they communicate.'”
It’s tempting and all too common for people who have more power to minimize what it feels like to feel powerless. It’s easy to assume that we’re all “equal.” We may all be adults, but that does not mean that we all feel equal in any given situation and that dynamic often changes the context for and meaning of communication. This issue is a gateway into some deep territory, but I’m convinced that communicating in ways that offset the power imbalance is a big part of what it means to be an agent of reconciliation in a multicultural world.
The quote within the quote can be found in Martin and Nakayhama’s book called Intercultural Communication in Context on page 103. The entire quote is from Communication Between Cultures by Samovar et al.
