Sunday, September 19, 2010

Does culture defines institutions or institutions define culture?

          Based on the internet source “wikipedia” explained that institutions are structures of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of human collectively. Institutions also known as a significant practice, relationship, or organization in a society or culture. The field for institutions is very broad, it covers marriage, family, religion, education, science institutions, hospitals, legal system penalty system, mass media, art, culture, language and so on.  whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace. This institution had represents from different country which possess different cultures and work together to resolve country’s conflicts using appropriate method through decision made according to the country’s cultures and beliefs.
         On the other hand, culture can be define as the excellence taste in fine arts and humanities and the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group.This definition strongly prove that it is culture itself defines institutions. Institutions would not exist before culture since it is made up of a group of people that behave the same way to work as an institution which consist of common individual goals and values.
         Culture is main ingredient to establish an institution that allow each institutions to show their own identity. It acts as the ridgepole or foundation that leads to the formation of an institution, a united society must be made up of common individual’s belief, practices and goals which define as a culture. For instance, a social institution require a distinct culture practice reinforce the identity of its organization. A famous example which is United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in inrenational law, international security,econimic development, social progress, human rights and achievement of world peace. This institution has representation from different country which possess different cultures and work together to resolve country’s conflicts using appropriate method through decision made according to the country’s cultures and beliefs.
        In my opinion, culture is an important role to forming an institution, thus, culture defines institutions.

3 comments:

  1. Let me disagree with you in your point. I realized what our professor said about this is "Which came first the egg our the chicken" situation, if you think about it the family is the basic form of institution, and culture is made of group of beliefs and behaviors that individuals have. So I guess most basic institutions formed the culture which formed bigger institutions.

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  2. I agree with Hadi, I still think cultures were difined by institutions. You need more evidence to convince me ~

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  3. I agree with you in regard that culture is the main ingredient to establish an institution. I like you used real life examples.

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