Cross-Cultural Conflict: Cross-Cultural Conflict: Building Relationships for Effective Ministry

by Duane Elmer

Book Overview

Whether at home or abroad, communicating with people of other cultures is difficult. It requires new ways of thinking and interpreting the world. When conflict arises, as it often does, the issues become even more confusing. Without a good understanding of how different cultures handle conflict, our best intentions may only make matters worse.

With a particular focus on Asian and Hispanic cultures (at home and around the world) and on African...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830816577
• ISBN13: 9780830816576
• Release Date: December 1993
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

The best book I have read on the subject

Elmer does a great job of balancing general advice with practical examples. Many books suffer from general advice that one is hard pressed to apply while other books give lots of specific examples that you cannot apply to your particular situation. The first section of the book deals with understanding conflict and culture. This deals with the subject in a general way. He looks at five popular western ways of approaching a troublesome situation: win-lose, avoidance, giving in, compromise, and carefronting. He suggests that all are western and need to be modified in other cultures. The second section gets to the heart of the matter and provides information on using mediation and mediators; the one-down position and vulnerability; storytelling and proverbs; and inaction, misdirection, silence, and indefinite persons. A number of cultures are used as examples: African, Middle Eastern, and Asian. The third and final section provides a series of principles which are in wide use such as speak to the problem, not the person. The conclusion consists of ten general rules and eight principles for dealing with cross-cultural conflict. On the whole, a book well worth reading.

A Must Read for Westerners Working Outside Their Culture.

Before I moved to Bangkok, Thailand in 1996 to teach at an International School, friends loaned me their copy of this book. It opened my eyes. A few years later, a professor in my graduate studies required that I read it again. I did so gladly. I cited this book favorably in my thesis and highly recommend it to any Westerner who will work with non-Westerners. Duane Elmer first helps Americans understand their own typical conflict resolution style. Then he surveys conflict resolution styles of non-Western cultures. More than that, he shows how the Bible upholds each of these styles as viable options for conflict resolution.

A Good Introduction with Practical Suggestions

I found this to be a well written book that introduced some basic concepts in intercultural communication through personal stories and easy to read discussion of the concepts. Elmer shows us the many contrasts between Western Culture and Two-Thirds World cultures and provides concise suggestions on how to navigate the differences successfully. I especially appreciated a chapter he devoted to a study of an episode from the book of Joshua which illustrated a Biblical model of successful conflict resolution. While this book is not comprehensive in its approach it is informative and easy reading.

Excelent primer for understancing cross cultural dynamics.

The authors have presented an excelent foundation for understanding cross cultural relationships. Perhaps the best of the book is the duscussion which focuses on patient learning of as much of the other culture as possible to understand non-American responses to situations and events. The authors carefully consider what an American response would be, and also give examples of responses from cultures outside American culture. We are finding the book very useful for both our American missionaries, as well as our African counterparts. Both are coming to new levels understanding one another, as well as working together. Great beginning!