Colombia and Ecuador are two brotherly countries of South America, which share the same colours on their flags, like shields and the same political liberator Simon Bolivar, and the two countries face a very complex problem: Intercultural communication issues created by the refugee crisis. The problem of violence that Colombia has faced for over fifty years by illegal armed groups and the national army forces, has led to thousands of deaths, most of whom were not participants of the conflict plaguing this undeveloped South American country.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Cultural dimensions’ theory
3. Who is a refugee?
4. Discrimination against Colombians in Ecuador
5. Persecution suffered by Colombian refugees in Ecuador
6. The impact of food insecurity among the Colombian refugees in Ecuador
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This research essay investigates the complex intercultural communication challenges faced by Colombian refugees residing in Ecuador, analyzing how socio-political tensions, discrimination, and economic instability create significant barriers between the two cultures.
- The application of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions’ theory to explain expected vs. actual cultural integration.
- The impact of institutional and social discrimination on the daily lives and self-esteem of refugees.
- The influence of cultural persecution following regional diplomatic tensions.
- The correlation between food insecurity, resource competition, and social stigmatization.
Excerpt from the Book
Discrimination against Colombians in Ecuador
Discrimination against Colombians in Ecuador negatively affects the intercultural communication between both cultures (¿Por qué nos odian en Ecuador?, 2009). Discrimination is the act of giving a hostile, humiliating and depreciable treatment to a person or a group of people (Orbe & Camara, 2010). There are thousands of people who are victims of discrimination every day because of their physical appearance, personality and their lifestyle, such as ethnic or national origin, economic status, disability, age, sex, health status, pregnancy, sexual preference, religion, opinions, language, marital status and other discrepancies may be causes of discrimination, persecution or restriction of human rights (Nimon, 2011; Simms, 2008; Orbe & Camara, 2010).
In research led by ACNUR (UNHCR) on urban refugees in Ecuador, 52% of Colombian refugees surveyed said they felt discriminated against by the Ecuadorians, particularly in relation to the adverse perceptions of refugee status, socio-economic situation, nationality, sexual orientation, gender and ethnicity (White, 2011). Additionally, the survey showed that public places are the spaces where most of the Colombian refugees face discrimination, followed by workplaces and public establishments (White, 2011).
The majority of Colombian refugees in Ecuador say that when seeking housing or employment they often hear Ecuadorians tell them: "we do not hire Colombians" or "we do not rent to Colombians." In fact, there are job ads that state: "we need employees to hire, but not Colombians" (White, 2011). These issues decrease the sort of work placements available for Colombian refugees. Furthermore, this situation permits the abuse by employers and it may become a grave obstacle to integration. Discrimination against refugees also affects access to housing and makes it very difficult for them to find a place to live (White, 2011).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the context of the refugee crisis stemming from the Colombian conflict and introduces the resulting intercultural communication friction in Ecuador.
Cultural dimensions’ theory: Discusses Hofstede’s model, arguing that due to shared collectivist cultural roots, tension between the two nations should theoretically not occur.
Who is a refugee?: Defines the legal framework of a refugee based on the 1951 Convention and its relevance to the situation in Ecuador.
Discrimination against Colombians in Ecuador: Examines the pervasive social and workplace discrimination faced by Colombian refugees and its impact on their lives.
Persecution suffered by Colombian refugees in Ecuador: Analyzes the shift from political persecution in Colombia to cultural persecution in Ecuador, exacerbated by regional border conflicts.
The impact of food insecurity among the Colombian refugees in Ecuador: Highlights how poverty and lack of basic resources create a competitive environment that fuels xenophobia.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the main findings, concluding that systemic discrimination and resource competition are the primary drivers of the strained intercultural relationships.
Keywords
Colombian refugees, Ecuador, Intercultural communication, Cultural dimensions, Hofstede, Discrimination, Xenophobia, Persecution, Food insecurity, Refugee crisis, Social stigma, Human rights, Integration, Conflict, Forced migration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research examines the intercultural communication issues encountered by Colombian refugees in Ecuador as a consequence of conflict-driven displacement.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The core themes include cultural dimensions, systemic discrimination, cultural persecution, and the socio-economic impact of food insecurity on refugee integration.
What is the main research question or goal?
The essay aims to identify and describe the specific factors—such as stereotyping and resource competition—that create communication barriers between Colombian refugees and their host society in Ecuador.
Which theoretical framework is employed?
The author uses Geert Hofstede's "cultural dimensions’ theory" to analyze the cultural similarities and differences between the two populations.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body covers the definition of a refugee, the reality of discrimination in workplaces and housing, the history of cultural persecution following the 2008 FARC camp bombing, and the exacerbating factor of food insecurity.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Colombian refugees, Ecuador, intercultural communication, discrimination, cultural persecution, and food insecurity.
How did regional political events impact the refugees?
The 2008 bombing of a FARC camp in Ecuador significantly worsened cultural tensions, leading to increased stigmatization and "cultural persecution" of refugees as they were viewed as a negative extension of Colombia's internal conflict.
Does the research suggest that all Ecuadorians are prejudiced against Colombians?
No, the author explicitly notes that not all Colombians are criminals and not all Ecuadorians harbor hate toward them, noting that positive relationships exist between the two nationalities in other countries.
- Citar trabajo
- Alfredo Lopez (Autor), 2016, Intercultural communication issues faced by the Colombians refugees in Ecuador, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/470309
