Deep Roots v. Blank Slate

I was talking with Brett Lovellette (my friend from law school who has joined me here in Uganda and is my flatmate, working for the second highest judge in all of Uganda, the Deputy Chief Justice) the other evening about what has frustrated me in trying to encourage the Ugandan legal community into mediation. We were discussing how in America it seems that if a good or better idea comes along that we adapt and and adopt, and there is a nimbleness inherent in the culture. And we discussed how here in Uganda it can be difficult when you appeal logically to someone how a way is better, for them, from your perspective, and they do not have any case to the contrary, but they still do not adopt it (insert ADR and Mediation here), how frustrating it can be.

And that gets to the realization that America is somewhat of a blank slate, and was founded as a blank slate. Not in the sense that history did not play a roll, or that most everything was borrowed from somewhere else. But regarding the expectancy and the relative lack of cultural roots that existed amongst the colonists (the American Indians are another matter entirely) the melting pot has allowed for a fresh start. The United States has had the luxury of taking a new idea, and innovation, and without cultural pretense implementing it. This is unique as to the rest of the world (cultural anthropologists can skewer me. . . now). Our democratic disposition, as a representative republic, was adapted and formulated from hundreds of years of political philosophy and bad examples. And as a new industry and a new way of doing things were presented, American culture, as a conglomeration of hundreds of other cultures, could adopt and adapt. This has also put us in a precarious position at this point in our history of being in danger of losing longevity, due to a lack of cohesive cultural roots. But what has allowed America to innovate and adapt was the relative blank slate upon which it was founded. Freedom, liberty, the pursuit of happiness had not been guaranteed to such an extent inherent in a political/cultural framework before.

Now, a country like Uganda, or pick nearly any country on earth--like Ethiopia for example, that has one of the longest enduring cultures anywhere--has a long history and deep cultural roots. While this can be changed, the tide of history is not easily turned, even if it looks to be easy on the surface. And so when new ideas come along, they must be superimposed and fit into the cultural framework that already exists. Therefore, it can be difficult for a culture that is of a relative blank slate (USA) to understand why some practices are not accepted and wholesale applied to a place that presumably could benefit greatly by the change. Whether it is mediation and ADR in Uganda, or democracy in the Middle East, cultural roots and the deep-seeded aspects of culture and history MUST be taken into account and considered in bringing ideas to these areas of the world. We cannot expect things that work in America to work the same way, and sometimes to work at all, in places that have completely different histories, completely different roots. This is not to dissuade spreading ideas that we believe and know are good and beneficial. But we must consider, contemplate, and take account of the depth of history and cultural differences that exist. I am all for democracy, I love being from the USA. But anyone who thinks that democracy as it is applied to the US will work the same way in Iraq or Afghanistan has never spent time in those areas or completely discounts cultural roots. And the same goes for mediation here in Uganda. I have had to tear myself out of certain assumptions of application, especially out of expectations of instant acceptance, no matter how much better or beneficial the idea is, without taking into consideration the long and hard work it takes to bring sea change into a deep-rooted culture. Democracy = good. Mediation = good. BUT if you do not consider the culture and its roots, the branch you try and graft on will be rejected and you will only have a maimed tree rather than a stronger one.

Now, having said all this, mediation is funny because it is rooted more deeply in African culture than anywhere else in the world (with the possible exception of the Middle East). So the real question is how to draw to the surface those roots that have existed, and been neglected, in the culture for many decades. When I have the answer to that one, I will let you know.

(If this entry has changed from the original posting it is because I have edited my grammatical errors and clarified a few points.)