Towards a theoretical framework of intercultural communication ethics in the arab gulf culture: The perspectives of global public relations practitioners in Bahrain

Abstract

This research investigates the perspectives of global public relations practitioners in the governmental sector in Bahrain. Sixteen qualitative interviews were conducted to provide in-depth theoretical understanding of the intercultural communication ethics in the Arab Gulf. The researcher used the theoretical framework of Hofstede (1984; 1994) to analyze the data. The research reveals that an Arab framework of intercultural communication ethics should address the society’s dilemma between modernization and Arabic/Islamic traditional values. The research provides a proposed framework that consists of “revealed” and “avoided” processes of communication. This framework is based on Arabic relational values of openness, awareness of diversity, power hierarchy, loyalty to collective culture, motivation to achieve individual goals, respect to woman and motivation to develop uncertainty-avoidance strategies.