Main Article Content
Abstract
This ethnographic study investigates into the cross-cultural challenges faced by 23 Filipino Individual Police Officers (IPOs) serving in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). This research employs qualitative methods, including structured interviews and participant observation, to explore the impact of cultural differences on performance, communication, and interpersonal relationships within a diverse peacekeeping environment.
This research explores three pivotal inquiries: What shared cultural insights do Filipino IPOs recognize in UNMISS? What particular obstacles are they encountering? What effects do these challenges have on their performance?
The findings reveal that cultural differences—especially in language, communication styles, and work ethics—resulted in misunderstandings and operational challenges, yet they also fostered growth. Filipino IPOs showcased remarkable adaptability, patience, and resilience, enhancing collaboration and elevating cultural sensitivity.
The research suggests implementing focused strategies, including pre-deployment training, psychological evaluations centered on cultural adaptability, and mentorship initiatives. This research offers valuable insights into the intricacies of intercultural dynamics within peacekeeping missions. It highlights the critical need to support peacekeepers, thereby boosting their effectiveness and showcasing Filipino cultural values on the international stage.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Andronic, A. M. T., & Constantin, T. (2022). Mi-grant acculturation: A multidimensional review. Journal of Intercultural and Mul-ticultural Studies, 16(2), 2-23. Retrieved from https://www.jims.e-migra-tion.ro/Vol16_No2_2022/JIMS_Vol16_No2_2022_pp_2_23_ANDRONIC.pdf
Bartels, S. A., Lusamba, S., & Lee, S. (2021). Par-ticipant and narrative characteristics as-sociated with host community members sharing experiences of peacekeeper-perpetrated sexual exploitation and abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo. BMJ Global Health, 6(10), e006631. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006631.abstract
Blindheim, A. (2020). Did the UN miss with the Protection of Civilians in South Sudan? Exploring perspectives and perceptions of the UN protecting policies for the Unit-ed Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) (Master's thesis, UiT Norges arktiske universitet).
Bove, V., Ruffa, C., & Ruggeri, A. (2020). Blue Helmets’ Diversity: Field Diversity and Peacekeeping. In V. Bove, C. Ruffa, & A. Ruggeri (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (pp. 43-82). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198790655.003.0003
Bove, V., Ruffa, C., & Ruggeri, A. (2022). The composition of UN peacekeeping mis-sions. In Handbook on Peacekeeping and International Relations (pp. 60-73). Ed-ward Elgar Publishing. https://www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap/book/9781839109935/book-part-9781839109935-14.xml
Caputo, A., Ayoko, O. B., Amoo, N., & Menke, C. (2019). The relationship between cultural values, cultural intelligence and negotia-tion styles. Journal of Business Research, 99, 23-36.
Coleman, K. P. (2020). Downsizing in un peacekeeping: the impact on civilian peacekeepers and the missions employ-ing them. International Peacekeeping, 27(5), 703-731. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13533312.2020.1793328
Dahl, A. (2021). Mission Impossible? How in-sufficient operational conditions limit the chances of mission success in Mali. https://www.diva-por-tal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1630819&dswid=-7720
Eyanae, B. (2022). Assessing the Performance of United Nations Peacekeeping in Africa: The Case of UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) (Doctoral dissertation, Univer-sity of Nairobi). http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/161562
Gemeda, H. K., & Lee, J. (2020). Leadership styles, work engagement and outcomes among information and communications technology professionals: A cross-national study. Heliyon, 6(4).
Gledhill, J., Caplan, R., & Meiske, M. (2021). De-veloping peace: the evolution of devel-opment goals and activities in United Na-tions peacekeeping. Oxford Development Studies, 49(3), 201-229. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13600818.2021.1924126
Horne, C., Robinson, K., & Lloyd, M. (2020). The relationship between contributors’ do-mestic abuses and peacekeeper miscon-duct in United Nations Peacekeeping Op-erations. International Studies Quarterly, 64(1), 235-247. https://academic.oup.com/isq/article-abstract/64/1/235/5555438
Irwin, H. (2020). Communicating with Asia: Understanding people and customs. Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003134763/communicating-asia-harry-irwin
Jackson, J. C., Watts, J., Henry, T. R., List, J. M., Forkel, R., Mucha, P. J., ... & Lindquist, K. A. (2019). Emotion semantics show both cultural variation and universal structure. Science, 366(6472), 1517-1522.
Jochemsen, M. C. (2022). A Review of UNMISS and the Peacebuilding Space in South Su-dan. https://openaccess.uoc.edu/handle/10609/146821
Jureńczyk, Ł. (2021). Determinants of the Par-ticipation of the People’s Republic of Chi-na in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Przegląd Strategiczny, 11(14), 457-469. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=1007834
Kasembeli, G. (2021). Review of the Activities and Experiences of the UN Mission in Ivo-ry Coast. Available at SSRN 4107779. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4107779
Kiplagat, M. (2019). The Role Of Police In Mul-ti-Dimensional Peace-Keeping Operations In Unmiss (Doctoral dissertation, Univer-sity of Nairobi). http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/108724
Kyprianou, A. (2024, June 20). Unlocking Hall’s cultural dimensions: The secret to oppor-tunity abroad. Preply. https://preply.com/en/blog/b2b-hall-cultural-dimensions/
Lacko, D., Čeněk, J., Točík, J., Avsec, A., Đorđević, V., Genc, A., ... & Subotić, S. (2022). The necessity of testing meas-urement invariance in cross-cultural re-search: Potential bias in cross-cultural comparisons with individualism–collectivism self-report scales. Cross-Cultural Research, 56(2-3), 228-267.
Laukka, P., & Elfenbein, H. A. (2021). Cross-cultural emotion recognition and in-group advantage in vocal expression: A meta-analysis. Emotion Review, 13(1), 3-11.
Macaranas, J. R. G. (2021). Understanding folk religiosity in the Philippines. Religions, 12(10), 800. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12100800
Macaspac, N. V. (2020). Suspicion and ethno-graphic peace research (notes from a lo-cal researcher). In Engaging Ethnographic Peace Research (pp. 81-98). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780429282034-5/suspicion-ethnographic-peace-research-notes-local-researcher-nerve-valerio-macaspac
Mingst, K. A., Karns, M. P., & Lyon, A. J. (2022). The United Nations in the 21st century. Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003038269/united-nations-21st-century-karen-mingst-margaret-karns-alynna-lyon
Müller, T. R. (2020). Protection of civilians mandates and ‘collateral damage’of UN peacekeeping missions: Histories of refu-gees from Darfur. International Peace-keeping, 27(5), 760-784. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13533312.2020.1803745
Nawata, K. (2020). A glorious warrior in war: Cross-cultural evidence of honor culture, social rewards for warriors, and inter-group conflict. Group Processes & Inter-group Relations, 23(4), 598-611.
Njoroge, J. E. (2024, March 11). The Im-portance of Intercultural Competence. Evansons Labs. Retrieved from https://evansonslabs.com/2024/03/11/the-importance-of-intercultural-competence/
O'Donoghue, D. (2024, January 25). What is cross-cultural communication? Here's why it matters. G2. https://www.g2.com/articles/what-is-cross-cultural-communication
Oksamytna, K., Bove, V., & Lundgren, M. (2021). Leadership selection in United Nations peacekeeping. International Stud-ies Quarterly, 65(1), 16-28. https://academic.oup.com/isq/article-abstract/65/1/16/5828496
Opiyo, K. O., Iteyo, C., & Onkware, K. (2024). The Nature of the United Nations Peace Mission in South Sudan. African Journal of Empirical Research, 5(2), 710-724. ajol-file-jour-nals_642_articles_272405_66759bfbd016c.pdf
Patry, P. (2024). Cultural differences and con-flict resolution in global teams. Global Mindful Solutions. Retrieved from https://globalmindfulsolutions.com/cultural-differences-and-conflict-resolution-in-global-teams/
Podder, S., & Manzillo, G. (2021). Reflection on labour hierarchies in Peacekeeping: a study on the operational experiences of military Peacekeepers. International Peacekeeping, 28(5), 701-731. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13533312.2021.1968840
Powles, A., Partow, N., & Nelson, M. N. (Eds.). (2015). United Nations peacekeeping challenge: The importance of the inte-grated approach. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. https://books.google.com.ph/books?hl=en&lr=&id=v3qMCgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=Powles,+A.,+Partow,+N.,+%26+Nel-son,+M.+N.+(Eds.).+(2015).+United+Nations+peacekeeping+challenge:+The+importance+of+the+integrated+approach.+&ots=_eZz6_LzMS&sig=fjcFFxa9aj0YNC0K_52ifIaN6tY&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Rollero, C., & De Sanctis, S. (2020). The experi-ence of male soldiers during peacekeep-ing missions: A qualitative study. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psycholo-gy, 26(1), 100. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2019-63583-001
Ruffa, C., & Rietjens, S. (2023). Meaning making in peacekeeping missions: mandate inter-pretation and multinational collaboration in the UN mission in Mali. European jour-nal of international relations, 29(1), 53-78. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13540661221104757
Shiraev, E. B., & Levy, D. A. (2020). Cross-cultural psychology: Critical thinking and contemporary applications. Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780429244261/cross-cultural-psychology-eric-shiraev-david-levy
Sherman, J., & Trithart, A. (2021, August). Stra-tegic Communications in UN Peace Oper-ations: From an Afterthought to an Oper-ational Necessity. International Peace In-stitute. Retrieved from https://www.ipinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IPI-RPT-Strategic-Communications.pdf
Smith, P. K., López-Castro, L., Robinson, S., & Görzig, A. (2019). Consistency of gender differences in bullying in cross-cultural surveys. Aggression and violent behavior, 45, 33-40.
Taylor, P., & Smith, K. (2019). The United Na-tions (UN). In Peacekeeping And The Role Of Russia In Eurasia (pp. 189-212). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780429301261-11/united-nations-un-paul-taylor-karen-smith
Tidblad-Lundholm, K. (2020). When are wom-en deployed? Operational uncertainty and deployment of female personnel to UN peacekeeping. International peacekeep-ing, 27(4), 673-702. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13533312.2020.1760717
Tobin, J. (2015). Occupational stress and UN peacekeepers. Irish Journal of Psycholog-ical Medicine, 32(2), 205-208. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/irish-journal-of-psychological-medicine/article/abs/occupational-stress-and-un-peacekeep-ers/CFCA7DEBBEFCF954AF8D13A18008A791
Tuvdendarjaa, M. (2022). Challenges of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep43936?seq=5
United Nations Security Council Report (2024). Security Council: Situation in South Sudan “Report of the Secretary-General” dated October 25, 2024.
Vahedi, L., Bartels, S. A., & Lee, S. (2021). ‘Even peacekeepers expect something in re-turn’: a qualitative analysis of sexual in-teractions between UN peacekeepers and female Haitians. Global Public Health, 16(5), 692-705. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17441692.2019.1706758
Visagie, N., Du Toit, R. A., Joubert, S., Schoeman, D., & Zungu, D. (2022). Comparing de-ployment experiences of South African National Defence Force personnel during peace support missions: Sudan vs Demo-cratic Republic of Congo. Scientia Milita-ria: South African Journal of Military Studies, 50(2), 127-154. https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.5787/50-2-1375
Wale, H. (2024). Hofstede’s Cultural Dimen-sions Theory. Corporate Finance Institute. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/management/hofstedes-cultural-dimensions-theory/
Ward, C., Bochner, S., & Furnham, A. (2020). Psychology culture shock. Routledge.
Wilén, N. (2020). Female peacekeepers’ added burden. International Affairs, 96(6), 1585-1602. https://academic.oup.com/ia/article-abstract/96/6/1585/5912732
Xu, K. M., Cunha-Harvey, A. R., King, R. B., de Koning, B. B., Paas, F., Baars, M., ... & de Groot, R. (2023). A cross-cultural investi-gation on perseverance, self-regulated learning, motivation, and achievement. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 53(3), 361-379.
Yang, K. S., & Bond, M. H. (2019). Will Societal Modernization Eventually Eliminate Cross Cultural Psychological Differences. Research in Personality Transformation and Modernity, 10, 111.Chiu, C. Y., & Shi, Y. (2019). Cross‐cultural competence. Cross‐cultural psychology: Contempo-rary themes and perspectives, 39-55.
Zhang, Z. S., Hoxha, L., Aljughaiman, A., Arënliu, A., Gomez‐Arizaga, M. P., Gucyeter, S., ... & Ziegler, A. (2021). Social environmental factors and personal motivational factors associated with creative achievement: A cross‐cultural perspective. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 55(2), 410-432.