Sociologists define culture as “the ways of thinking, the ways of acting and the material objects which, together, form the mode of life of a people” (Macionis 40); but when and how do cultures develop? A society's values ​​and beliefs derived from its people's ancestry, economy or way of life in relation to its physical environment and political situation all play an active role in shaping the culture of 'a society. Moreover, local variables are not enough to develop the culture of a society in the modern era. We must not only consider the effects of globalization on a local culture, but also, conversely, the capacity of a local culture to influence the global scene and its interactions within it. Until the rise of terrorist threats in the Horn of Africa, many people outside of senior government officials had probably never heard of the country of Djibouti; However, the culture of Djibouti is an excellent example of how a local culture can influence a country's role and relationships within the international community. This article will examine how Djibouti's social, political, and economic history has shaped its current culture and how existing culture influences global relations and U.S. interests in the Horn of Africa. First, we will explore the social, political and economic history of Djibouti. understand its culture today. Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Eritrea to the north, Ethiopia to the west, Somalia to the south and the Gulf of Aden which leads to the Red Sea to the east. About the size of the state of New Jersey, it is home to a population of more than half a million, consisting primarily of Afar, also called Danakil, and Issa, a branch of the Somalis, who were nomadic and established shepherds. .... middle of paper ...... and their cultures. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Costa-Rica-to-Georgia/Djiboutians.html Gomez, Arthur (1984). The Horn of Africa. Strategic questions. Retrieved from http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1984/GA.htmThe InterAfrica Group (1995). Social Development in the Horn of Africa: Challenges and Prospects, March 1995. University of Pennsylvania Center for African Studies. Retrieved from http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Hornet/IAGW-March.htmlMacionis, John J. (2009). Sociology: The Basics Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Nelson, Mike (2010). Djibouti: significant foreign relations with Ethiopia, France, the United States and China. Africa in World Politics, Fall 2010. Retrieved from http://africanworldpolitics.site.wesleyan.edu/2010/11/08/djibouti-important-foreign-relations-with-ethiopia-france-the-united-states -and- China/