Often cross cultural relations is seen as the preserve of community workers, diplomats and possibly psychologists. As such it is often a field that is thought to be ‘soft’, utilising informal skills and sometimes being downright undisciplined.
What such a view overlooks is the massive importance of cross cultural relations in the fields of business and the economy. Important, dynamic and demanding both intelligence and boldness, the business world and the wider field of economics are not only the location of cross cutlural relations, they are driven by cross cultural relations, even in as much as they influence cultures and relations between cultures.
Hence, it is only fitting that there should be an issue of GOLDENROOM that explores this dynamic in all its plurality. Two articles, each with a distinctive tone, ‘Constructing Equality’, and ‘My Story: Shalini Bhalla’ are inspiring stories of how businesses have developed out of the importance and challenges of addressing diversity and cross cultural relations.
Economics frequently drives migration, but such shifts in demographics also have a profound effect on business and the economy. In fact entire communities change location and character, wax and wane at the forces of the economy, changing labour and business markets,but often with a terrific price on human rights and humanity. And often where cultures collide in competition, long lasting ethnic and cultural conflict ensues. Alasdair McKillop provides a sensitive and thought provoking analysis on how we remember such historical events where markets and migration are indelibly marked on the collective consciousness. He concludes by asking: ‘can we remember parts of our past marked by division and violence without perpetuating those divisions or exacerbating them anew?’
In a similar vein GOLDENROOM’s cover story, ‘ Pieces of the Puzzle’ looks at the history of Britain’s Chinese Merchant Seamen. their sizeable contributions to the economy and society and crucially, their establishement of Eurasian families and the legacy of this tragedy when they were forbidden to return to Britain. A difficult and often unknown chapter in the history of Britain, this article also gives insight into the salience of knowing one’s identity and heritage.
For a similar perplexing and intriguing read about dual identities, take a look at our article on Osel Hita Torres, also known as Lama Osel.
This issue is packed with similar such intelligent and substantive reading, from GOLDENROOM’s recommendations on books, CDs and DVDs following the theme of cross cultural relations in business and the economy, to the pleasureable discovery of an iconic tea house established by a recently immigrated couple. Enjoy the biography of this month’s iconic ICON, Mohamed Al Fayed and of course a fantastic recipe for chutney in our section, You At Home.
Lots more inside to inform and reflect upon, especially about better ways to do business such as our article on best language courses and a really uplifting article about a platform that unites travellers and locals. And hopefully, in all of this you will see something of you and yours in this packed issue too.
Editor in Chief
Online Journal for Cross Cultural Relations
Image by Salvatore Vuono www.freedigitalphotos.net