Englishmen Versus American

I have just read a passage about the cultural differences between two old countries – the USA and the UK. Mind-set and behavioral differences, such as responses to failure and success, are discussed in the article, as well as financial openness. It is not a robust and large-scale research supported by extensive surveys. So, it attracts various challenges and criticism. For the same reason, you can not find a genuine response from a straightforward, well-designed research framework.

In the above paragraph, I differentiated between individual observation and extensive scientific research, which is usually equipped with sophisticated methods, ground-breaking approaches and theories, and mass observation. I do not try to imply that personal experience does not deserve equal respect and scientific recognition. How an idea is expressed and structured will attract similar expressions and structures of communication. In other words, a scientific approach will likely trigger similar scientific works, and colloquial expressions will attract rebuttal or agreement conveyed in the same expressions. 

A comparison rings our bell about similar comparisons between Indonesia and Malaysia, Malaysia and Singapore, India and Pakistan, or Japan and the Korean Republic. You can add the list. Proximity countries, be it geographically, historically, or politically, will likely have 'love and hate' relationships. Like siblings whose interactions are characterized by heated conflicts but secretly admire and protect each other, Englishmen and Americans are no exception. 

However, differences between people may not be advantageous in practical matters. The more relevant matter is their political relationship and infrastructure differences. Both aspects are important for global citizens. For example, their seemingly bonded interests can affect how the Asian economy and politics run. This is due to the cold conflict between the US and China (Russia). Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, for example, treat China in a very different and opportunistic way relative to what has been done by the US and its allies. For the citizens of these Asian countries, like me, this political and economic stance must be maintained in an orchestrated manner among Global South countries or Southeast Asian countries.

Birmingham, 11 December 2024

Read more »

The Dead of Expertise

I finally realized that expertise is not solely about the expert—an individual. Gradually, a new horizon emerged, revealing an unprecedented understanding, at least from my perspective. I mean, a mental framework and habitual patterns underlie expertise. In other words, expertise is not a product. The products, such as theories, statements, arguments, theses, or conclusions, are merely signposts of expertise. One cannot be labeled an expert simply for producing these "outputs." 

Therefore, academic work often adheres to fixed or rigid rules, such as writing styles, structures, and specific terms or definitions. It is not about institutional or teacher dominance, but rather about established structures and representations of human thought and understanding. While this system is not perfect, any alternative must offer a comparable level of complexity and a comprehensive worldview.

Birmingham, 12 November 2024

Read more »