Multicultural crews and the culture of globalization.

Annual General Assembly 2005 - Malmö

Section 3

Multicultural crews and the culture of globalization.

G. Benton
The California Maritime Academy

ABSTRACT

Economic and geo-political forces have created the conditions through which the maritime industry has assumed its current profoundly internationalist character. Therefore, much work has been done to address the problems that arise from multilingual and multiethnic crew compositions, primarily in regards to communication and the emergent significance of Maritime English as a field of study. Less emphasis, however, has been given to "cultural literacy" and the importance of understanding culturally-motivated interpersonal dynamics as they may impinge upon shipboard operations. Potential conflicts that may surface because of multicultural crews extend beyond issues of safety due to communication barriers, to issues of maritime security, cohesion among crew members, damage to morale, and perceptions of leadership support. This paper seeks to identify problems that may arise, and to suggest what can be done from the vantage point of the maritime university. It could be argued that a solution cannot arise from a simplistic mandate to "tolerate" other customs and cultural practices, but rather to embed knowledge of cultural difference in the maritime classroom, thus making the study of the cultures of globalization a core component of the maritime curriculum. Of the many obstacles facing the 21stcentury mariner, among them will be the need to manage cultural differences between crew members. The educated mariner will need to be able to understand the similarities and differences among people and to develop the capacities to solve problems. This could be accomplished through the implementation of a general education program that emphasizes critical thinking skills and knowledge about diversity and trans-cultural interactions. Finally, the question of globalization and cultural difference is not only a concern of the maritime community. In a world engaged with global affairs in regards to trade, national security, the environment, health, and justice, issues of multiculturalism impact many aspects of many trans-national operations. This paper will conclude with the suggestion that it is possible to turn the object of inquiry inside out. Through an analysis of the way the maritime industry deals (both successfully and unsuccessfully) with such issues, the study of shipboard life might prove useful to social scientists and scholars of globalization.

Keywords: culture, multiculturalism, globalization, maritime education, curriculum reform.