Cultural and civilizational interactions in the contemporary world: hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory

Abstract

An essential feature of the contemporary globalized world is the emergence and active development of a network of interactions between the representatives of the different cultural and civilizational communities that was not typical during the previous historical epochs. Under these conditions, there is a process of restructuring of every culture, every civilization system. If earlier the processes of civilizational and cultural renewal had lasted for centuries and millennia, today they have been taking place over years and decades. Nowadays, there is a conglomeration of cultural-civilizational communities that are different in history, traditions, languages, and religions. They develop, interact and mutually influence each other through cultural and civilizational dialogue. These relatively independent societies have to coexist within common information space, in which intercultural and intercivilizational communication is an important factor in regulating both internal life and relations between countries. G. Hofstede made a great contribution to the development of cultural dimensions theory. The works of G. Hofstede gave rise to an influential research tradition in the field of intercultural interactions. They are actively used by the researchers and consultants in the field of international business and communication. They continue to be a major resource in intercultural research and inspire the study of both cultural values and other aspects of culture. The article aims to highlight Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory. The author used an anthropological integrative approach, comparative analysis and interpretive research paradigm.