ABSTRACT
Like politics, culture is an important area in which international business substantially differs from national business. This chapter explains what culture is and discusses the cultural aspects of language, religion and social structure. It describes number of theories according to which cultures can be classified. Symbols are the most superficial characteristics of a culture and can be observed by others. Culture can be broken down into elements such as social structure, language, religion and education. The term language not only refers to verbal communication but also non-verbal communication. Language as well as religion plays a crucial part when doing business on an international level. The role of the individual highly depends on the degree of connection within a culture. Rituals are symbolic actions that are handed down from generation to generation in the same manner. The chapter focuses on ethics and international business. It discusses concepts such as corruption and codes of conduct.
