Cultural components and representations: One for all and all for one?

One of the dimensions in Hofstede's dimensions of cultural variability is individualism versus collectivism. This dimension is reflected in the recent tension between the US and China regarding internet freedom. The US advocates internet freedom where people have free access to information. The freer flow of information, they argued, builds stronger societies. On the other hand, China is of the view that restricting internet freedom protects their people from what they termed "menaces to Chinese society". They believe that the government and internet media both have a responsibility to guide opinion as the country is still at a crucial stage of reform and development, and that it is a period of marked social conflicts.

The individualistic nature of the US can be seen from their acknowledgment of society as a grouping of unique individuals, with each person playing a role in building a society. Collectivist China however sees society as an entire group of individuals without regard to personal identity. This may be rooted in their history of communist rule where people were all equal without differentiation.

Here, we are shown how a lack of understanding of different cultures may potentially result in undesirable clashes.