Cross-cultural Communication and International Development Ethics

Is cross-cultural communication and criticism possible? This question is important question, since, if such cross-cultural practice is not possible, then development ethics, which applies ethical reflection to the ends and means of development, could only be used by citizens of a given country to think critically about their own country’s development goals and strategies. By contrast, if cross-cultural communication is possible, then everyone – citizens of a nation, as well as its allies, friends, and foes—can understand and evaluate social change. Non-Iraquis could weigh in on whether democracy is a good thing for Iraq and how is should be promoted. Non-Americans would not be out of place in assessing US treatment of prisoners at home or abroad. It would not be illegitimate for International aid organizations would to assess a poor nation’s efforts to reduce deprivation and expand opportunity