An electic paradigm for inter country relationships: A case study of Australia-Malaysia sensitivities

The main purpose of this paper is to identify and describe the salient culturally sensitive events that have impacted upon Australia-Malaysia business relations between 1986-2000. This study identifies four distinct phases that have contributed to a heightening of cultural barriers between the two countries: namely "The Drug Traffickers Phase", "The Recalcitrant Phase", "The Racial Phase" and "The Millennium Phase". Although there is some consensus among academics that culture is multidimensional in nature, a number of authors differ quite radically in terms of what comprises the most common dimensions of cultural sensitivity between nations. The perceived insensitivity of Australians to cultural differences prevalent in the Asian countries is identified in this paper as one of the impediments towards the establishment of sustainable successful business relation