Cultural arrogance

The term cultural arrogance is often synonymous with terms like ethnocentrism and cultural elitism. At a basic level, cultural arrogance refers to the idea that one person believes their culture is superior to all others. Those who are culturally arrogant see only the positive aspects of their culture and then amplify them, disregarding any negative components. Cultural arrogance does not consider the uniqueness of other cultures, or the value of non-monetary artifacts. In the United States, cultural arrogance places significant emphasis on economic success and capital. In addition, cultural arrogance in the United States belittles those individuals that value something over monetary capital. Cultural arrogance also places emphasis on the current state in history and fails to acknowledge that any other point in history could possibly be better.

Although the United States is frequently cited as being known for its ethnocentrism, cultural arrogance exists in other countries for additional reasons. For example, the people of Norway take great pride in the realization that they have maintained their historic whaling culture despite the modernization of fishing. Pride and confidence in one’s culture should not be viewed automatically as a problem. However, when an exaggerated sense of self-worth is formed, as well as an inability to see the value in others, pride begins to become problematic.

Background

The term arrogance is closely tied to the ancient Greeks and refers to excessive pride or confidence. In Latin, arrogance is derived from adrogare, which means “to feel a sense of entitlement” with regard to demanding things from other people. Frequently, ethnocentrism is used in the fields of sociology and anthropology to describe the application and utilization of one’s own background as a frame of reference to judge other backgrounds. In other words, ethnocentrism places one’s lived experiences from culture into the center of a frame of reference, making dissimilar experiences revolve around the known experiences. The terms cultural arrogance and ethnocentrism are often used interchangeably. Both states are used to establish cultural superiority that helps to enforce a power structure or hegemonic framework. To establish a power structure, a hierarchy must be created, so even within one culture, dissent and conflict is created between groups. This creates a sense of intragroup Othering that places one group above another.

Ethnocentrism has been discussed since the 1800s. However, many scholars credit William Sumner with defining the term in 1906. Sumner discussed ethnocentrism in relationship to a cultural narrowness that causes an individual or group of people to see their culture—and those within their culture—as a goal for others to strive to achieve. Ludwig Gumplowicz, a Polish sociologist, is considered the father of ethnocentrism. He believed that a social-cultural hierarchy was necessary to determine the survival of the fittest. Gumplowicz is credited with influencing Gaetano Mosca, an Italian political scientist, who developed the elite theory in the late nineteenth century. The elite theory is a form of autocratic rule or governance in which a clear power structure exists to determine intellectual and material superiority.

Overview

Cultural arrogance has long been a complaint made against the United States and its citizens. US politicians have been criticized for declaring the United States the greatest country in the world, based on a list of arbitrary points. Scholars point to the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War as an example of cultural arrogance and what can go wrong if such arrogance goes unchecked. A common criticism of the United States is its focus only on US interests abroad, as opposed to also considering the interests of others and the history and culture of a particular country. Early in the Vietnam War, US officials believed that if they could win over the South Vietnamese people, they would be victorious. This was not true. Americans entered the country with little knowledge of the language, culture, or history. Historians point to the arrogance of US politicians for allowing ill-equipped soldiers to enter a country and impose their own preexisting belief system on the citizens. The lack of understanding regarding basic customs, religions, and etiquette put troops at an immediate disadvantage.

Cultural arrogance also exists within countries and extends beyond the United States. It is an ideology that places considerable emphasis on the positive characteristics of a particular group, while ignoring or downplaying any shortcomings. Likewise, cultural arrogance allows someone to compare two unlike entities using standards that reflect only one set of lived experiences. For example, a person from California may have a very specific idea of what it means to be wealthy. Outside of the United States, however, those criteria may not be applicable. To be wealthy in Nairobi, Kenya, may mean something entirely different. Thus, a traveler wrapped in a veil of cultural arrogance may perceive a particular Kenyan culture as poor, simply because the traveler is unaware of the cultural nuances and beliefs of the African nation.

Like US citizens, Europeans are also criticized for their cultural arrogance or blindness to cultures that may differ ideologically from their own. This is often noted in individualistic cultures whose members have difficulty understanding that not all cultures view individualism as a positive or something for which to strive. Entering a culture where the collective group is placed above the individual, the outsider may question the lack of individuality and personal freedoms.

Cultural arrogance can be seen in society, government, and business practices. Those who succumb to cultural arrogance may form an opinion or reach a conclusion and be unable and unwilling to entertain new information or ideas. This can be detrimental to individuals, communities, and corporations.

To combat cultural arrogance, people are encouraged to practice cultural sensitivity. Being culturally sensitive does not mean having pity for a culture that is different from what one finds most familiar. Instead, cultural sensitivity acknowledges the differences and similarities among cultures (or within groups of the same culture) and recognizes that different does not mean less-than.

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