In the international system there are many ethical and moral ambiguities. When looking at India and many other countries in the world it is very easy to apply one standard of ethics from whatever point of view one holds. It is like looking through a periscope, one can only see a part of the whole picture. This is how ambiguities are created in the international scene. People wish to view other societies through their own ethical beliefs and perspectives without regard to any other local or national cultural differences. For instance, when American businesses interact with Indian corporations and workers, they must consider their cultural and moral differences. Indians are largely Hindu or Buddhist; whereas, Americans are predominantly Christian. While these religions have overlaps, there are large differences in the moral values which they promote. This difference in ethical traditions complicates international interactions.
Additionally, the United States has lofty ideals for human rights that often conflict with working conditions and wages in other countries, such as India. Because of this discrepancy in business practices there are inherent tensions in doing business between the countries. It is very easy to look at labor practices in India and judge according to American traditional ethical standards. It’s easy to believe someone making mere dollars a day can survive but one must look beyond their own customary beliefs and commonalities in America. A few dollars go a lot further in India than in the United States. One of the most sought after jobs in India for the past few years are telemarketing jobs. These jobs, undesirable and more expensive to put in the United States, are goldmines for the Indian youth ( From the Book The World is Flat) . Telemarketers are traditionally looked down upon as less desirable jobs in the United States.
It is imperative for any student of the international world to be able to accept both his culture and any other culture that he would come across. This student must create his own cultural and ethical system which involves pieces of any culture they would come across. On a side note, it is very common when in a different country or culture to subject yourself to their ways of life and make your own subordinate to theirs.
Here are some questions to keep in mind:
Should we invest money, time, and labor into a society which does not uphold our values or our basic ethical and moral views?
Is it wrong that there is not an enforceable system of international values?
Main Conclusion:
India and America have different notions of ethical traditions and how morals should be upheld in society and more specifically the national economy..
