Interculturalism is a political movement that promotes cross-cultural discussion and challenges cultural self-segregation. It is a concept and method that promotes healthy interactions and connections amongst people from various cultural origins. It is frequently used in multicultural cultures where people from many cultural, ethnic, and religious origins coexist.
Interculturalism goes beyond simply accepting that many cultures exist in a community and instead encourages discourse and engagement across civilizations. Interculturalism is a term used to define the set of relationships that exist between indigenous and Western ideas and are based on mutual respect.
Origin
Interculturalism arose in response to criticisms of existing multiculturalist policies, such as claims that such policies failed to create inclusion of different cultures within society, but instead divided society by legitimizing segregated separate communities that isolated themselves and accentuated their specificity.
It is founded on the acknowledgment of cultural differences as well as similarities. It has addressed the danger of creating absolute relativism within postmodernity and diversity. Interculturalism has been employed by native American and indigenous rights activists to gain rights and recognition.
Here are some key points to understand about interculturalism:
- Emphasis on Interaction: It emphasizes interaction and engagement amongst people from various cultural backgrounds. It promotes people to learn about and from one another, so fostering understanding and collaboration.
- Respect for Diversity: It recognizes and respects a society’s cultural diversity, respecting the distinct viewpoints and contributions that each culture contributes. Interculturalism aims to foster an inclusive environment that values difference.
- Cultural Exchange: Interactions between cultural groups are frequently marked by the interchange of ideas, practices, traditions, and values. This exchange has the potential to strengthen the host culture while also preserving cultural identity.
- Social Cohesion: While interculturalism promotes diversity, it also aims to foster social cohesion and unity. It recognizes the need for common values and shared social norms to maintain a sense of belonging and to prevent cultural isolation or segregation.
Critiques and Debates
The concept of interculturalism has its detractors. Some believe that it is overly idealistic and ignores power disparities between civilizations. Others argue that it may favor assimilation or the values of the dominant culture over the preservation of cultural identity.
In essence, interculturalism aims to create a more inclusive and harmonious society by encouraging cultural dialogue, interchange, and mutual understanding. It is a dynamic and growing strategy to handling the challenges and opportunities presented by cultural diversity in modern cultures.
