Cultural Dimentions by Hofstede. Uncertainty avoidance.

Uncertainty avoidance is the extent to which a society feels threatened by unsure and ambiguous situations and consequently searches for statutory structures (Hill 1998:15). The stronger the uncertainty avoidance is, the greater the feeling of threat and the inclination towards avoiding novel situations, argues Hill. Low uncertainty avoidance cultures encourage risk taking and the adoption of informal rules to guide behaviour, whereas high uncertainty avoidance cultures prefer clear procedures and formal rules. Russia belongs to the high uncertainty avoidance cultures. There is a great desire for consensus in cultures high in uncertainty avoidance (Andersen 2001:97). Members of high uncertainty avoidance cultures also tend to display emotions more than do members of low uncertainty avoidance cultures. Hofstede summarizes the view of people in high uncertainty avoidance cultures as “what is different, is dangerous” and for people in low uncertainty avoidance cultures as “what is different, is curious” (Hofstede 2001:119).