MCPS

Countries emerging from conflict are expectedly vulnerable and fragile. After the devastation that is atypical of violent conflicts, few will deny that there is a clear moral imperative for aid to be used to address the humanitarian and financial needs of such countries. During the post conflict period, economic recovery is the single most powerful means of pulling people out of poverty by stabilizing the economy of the post-conflict state and creates employment and provides incomes. Aid represents one way of kick starting economic recovery that leads growth. Aid in this sense can be likened to a sort of band-aid solution aimed at alleviating immediate suffering and help kick start the post-conflict economy. It is however by its very nature unable to be a useful as a long-term sustainable growth strategy.

The UN Charter recognizes the right of its member states to non-intervention in their internal affairs. According to Falk, (1999) the wording of the provision was designed to reassure member states that their sovereign rights will be respected and they will never become targets of intervention.

answers his own question posed in the title of the book through systematic and coherent analysis of the various themes that form the building blocks of his narrative. In his opinion, the so called "war on terror" has been a spectacular failure. The book itself reads amazingly like an exciting work of fiction that has multiple plots, twists and turns. Paul Rogers uses a simple but interesting style that keeps the reader intrigued and focused on the trend of his thought. The crux of his arguments seems to jump out the pages as he brings to bear chapter after chapter of perspectives and analysis on key issues. The title of the book, "Why we're losing the war on terror" provides a window into Paul Rogers thinking and inclinations. Despite his scathing and damning report card on the way the war was conceived and prosecuted, he seems to identify with it by taking ownership, perhaps on behalf of the European interest, with his use of "we" in the title, instead of "they".

This thesis explores how multicultural teams deal with communication across cultures; and how during that process, they perceive and resolve conflicts. In any multicultural environment, there are two types of conflicts, i.e. task related conflicts normally associated with resource distribution, procedures, facts, etc. and relationship/emotional conflicts associated with feelings, preferences, values etc. The strategies adopted by individuals to handle conflict situations are also highly influenced by their cultural orientation.


The study is underpinned by a literature review of cross-cultural research, organizational research methods and theories on culture, communication, conflict resolution and multicultural team dynamics. A survey of 39 respondents was conducted on individuals with various cultural backgrounds to determine their cultural orientation; and how their cultural differences contribute to the creation of conflicts and the choice of conflict resolution strategies.

The outcome of the study informs the recommendations that in order to avoid conflicts that plague multicultural teams, organizations can put into place a 3 tier framework that: assesses the intercultural communication competence of all employees in order to identify those with ethnocentrism tendencies; train all team members to help suppress natural ethnocentric reactions; and improve communications and interactions at the workplace by putting into practice what is learned at training.

Key words: Cross-cultural communications, conflict, conflict resolution, multicultural teams, Global workplace