ABSTRACT
The objective of this chapter is to understand some of the cultural complexities and diversities in the European Union (EU) members. According to the most recent archeological evidence, the earliest fossil remains of the family of animals that includes human beings date back to approximately 1.8 million years ago. For hundreds of thousands of years, Neanderthals had preceded modern humans and shared the continent for roughly 100,000 years with them before becoming extinct. Educational systems in Europe tend to be very traditional, somewhat rigid in offerings and organization, and resistant to change. While strong in science, engineering, literature, and languages, courses in business, management, and entrepreneurship were only recently and slowly introduced. While there is diversity within Europe's political and economic systems, the EU is a force for standardization. During the ongoing transition from centralized planning to market economies within Russia, foreigners can expect much confusion, frustration, and uncertainty.
