Cognitive-cultural simulationof local and host government perceptions in international emergencies

Abstract

International emergency response involves billions of dollars in expenditure, deeply impacting those involved. Perception creates reality, and intervenors must be able to predict which actions will be perceived as responsive to local needs, mores, and values, across dimensions including capability, effectiveness, correctness, values alignment, solidarity, and legitimacy. If responses are seen as culturally-insensitive they may be rejected on this basis alone, or cooperation may be withheld. This paper demonstrates a method and software package for modeling the culture-and worldview- grounded perception of interventions during emergency response missions. Grounded in the `energy-based' INTELNET/COGVIEW knowledge representation and cultural modeling formalisms, the paper presents detailed examples of cultural model networks and demonstrates how they may be employed to simulate opinion formation during emergency interventions.