Managing Life Overseas: Evaluating the Confucian cluster of nations

In the blog last week, we began our focus on the importance of researching both the domestic and proposed new host culture when planning to live for an extended period overseas. We commenced this project by exploring what are commonly referred to as the English-speaking nations (ESNs) as an example domestic or home context. This week, while continuing to deepen our understanding of the ESNs cultural orientations, we will also explore the contrasting characteristics of the Confucian cluster of nations as our first example of a common new host cultural context.

Deepening our understanding of the ESNs cultural values

Like many other cultural researchers, Schwartz depicts the English-speaking nations as a distinct cluster of nations. Moreover, he argues that they are particularly homogeneous being characterised by a strong emphasis on Affective Autonomy and Mastery, while generally placing much lower emphasis on Harmony and Embeddedness. They are also only average on the expression of values associated with Intellectual Autonomy, Hierarchy, and Egalitarianism.

However, the USA is positioned as something of an outlier in that much stronger emphasis is placed on Mastery values, while it is also more hierarchical than any of the other ESNs. Perhaps more controversially, it also illustrates some of the characteristics associated with Embeddedness in that it is a notably religious society compared to all other ESNs.

Indeed, some observers go as far as to suggest that in a performative sense it operates effectively as a theocracy given it is almost inconceivable to think of anyone holding the political office of president or member of the government without specifically declaring some form of Christian faith. In contrast, such ritualistic expressions of religious belief would be considered rather odd to say the least in other ESNs.

The Confucian cluster of nations

The movement of people between the ESNs and Confucian nations for extended periods of living overseas is now frequent while being long established historically. Typically, the flow of students is inwards to the ESNs, educators of all types is outward bound, while other organisational employees show an equal exchange of personnel at a broad range of levels.

Then, with reference to the Hofstede dimensions, all nations in this cluster share the similarity of being highly restrained in their behaviour as reflected in actions such as regular savings and the disciplined avoidance of immediate pleasures, especially where they are unnecessarily extravagant. They also all share the characteristics of moderate to very large power distance relationships with expectations of respectful deference for those in positions of authority.

However, unlike the ESNs, the Confucian cluster does display variations in key value orientations. The most distinct variation is in relation to Uncertainty Avoidance. Here Singapore, Vietnam, and China have very low levels that arguably in part account for their rapid economic and social transformation. In contrast, South Korea and Japan display very high levels indicating a conservative orientation and reluctance to chance, particularly in relation to traditional values and behavioural expectations.

The Schwartz map and Confucian values

From an analysis of the Schwartz map, we can see that the Confucian cluster shares a number of common similarities especially in terms of being pragmatic, entrepreneurial, and orientated primarily towards the values of Mastery and Hierarchy. Moreover, these nations exhibit limited orientation towards either Egalitarianism or Harmony while Embeddedness is generally emphasised more strongly than in all European and American national groups.

Finally, as was the case of the USA in relation to the ESNs, Japan occupies the outlier role in this group in that it is surprisingly inclined toward what Hofstede defines as Individualism, combined with the Schwartz concepts of Intellectual Autonomy, and Harmony, while being lower on both Embeddedness and Hierarchy compared to other Confucian nations.

In conclusion, the primary purpose of gaining an initial overview of the key points of contrast between the home and new host cultures orientations is to avoid initial misunderstandings during early interpersonal communication. However, as we shall explore in this series, once settled in the host context, a great deal more research and effort will be required to acquire an understanding of the more deeply rooted cultural values.

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Question 1

What positive outcomes for the wider society could a Restraint orientation have on the economy?

Question 2

How might strong levels of Uncertainty Avoidance negatively influence gender relationships?

Question 3

To what extent can deeply rooted religious beliefs shape and restrict national development?

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We shall explore Question 3 in the next blog.

Reference

• Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G .J. & Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind: intercultural cooperation and its importance for survival (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill, London.

• Schwartz, S. H. (2009). Culture matters: national value cultures, sources, and consequences. In R. S. Wyer, C. Chiu, & Y. Hong (Eds.), Understanding culture: theory, research, and application (pp. 127–150). Psychology Press.