This paper will examine a few of the inter-cultural similarities and differences between East India and the United States, specifically covering the influences of geography and government, religion, and conflict resolution.
The first example of similarities and differences between the United States and India is in the influence of the geography and governments of both countries. The civilization that came out of the Indus Valley is the oldest in the world and dates back 5000 years as opposed to the much younger history of the North American Continent. Additionally, both India and the United States are located on large landmasses bordered by water on either side so that each has been able to develop in their own way until or unless there were incursions from elsewhere. Because India is so much older, this has created a culture that is much richer in history and tradition than the United States, and where many areas in India have developed different customs and traditions from each other. However, both countries are also federal republics where several states or territories with varying customs and peoples are united through a central government with representatives from each area. Yet, up until India's independence in 1947, there had been a tradition of either colonialism or some type of monarchy. Therefore, in this instance, the democratic tradition of a federal republic is much younger in India than in the United States. In many ways this has created a nation where there is more conflict and strife between the differing peoples and parties as they are not only striving to live in a democracy, which is a fairly new concept, but also to live up to age-old cultural and religious ideals that date back over 5000 years. In the United States, however, there is the ideal that while tradition is good, ingenuity and new concepts are better (India: CIA World Factbook http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook).
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