Interculturalism

Interculturalism is the philosophy of exchanges between cultural groups within a society, as used by nationalists of the Canadian province of Quebec. Quebeckers have historically been sensitive to any perceived degradation of their heritage. A rise in separatism since the 1960s has caused significant opposition to the federal policies of multiculturalism, which in Canada guarantees support of vibrant minority communities. This is seen as encouraging the loyalty and civic participation of new immigrants, which small nations like Canada are dependent on economically.

Germany, in contrast, has expelled migrants when their labor was no longer needed, rather explicitly categorizing their relation to Germany as one of convenience. The 'ghettos' associated with multiculturalism are considered by proponents of the Canadian federal policies to be actually preventing the appearance of unilingual ghettos, as Turks in Germany for instance have no loyalty to Germany and no affinity for its language or culture.

Various states have intercultural policies which seek to encourage the socialization of citizens of different origins. These policies are often ostensibly used as an instrument to fight racism.

Interculturalism requires an inherent openness to be exposed to the culture of the "other". Once a person is exposed to an element of a different culture, a dialogue will ensue, where everyone embarks upon understanding the culture of the other, and usually this involves comparisons. Thus, interculturalism breeds dialogue, in order to be able to look for commonalities between that element of one's culture and the culture of the other.^{[citation needed]}

Interculturalism seeks to enhance fusion by looking for commonalities. Hence, various cultures merge. The differences that remain make up the subcultures of the world.

Interculturalism vs Multiculturalism

Within a country, a distinction may be drawn between interculturalism and multiculturalism. Indeed, multiculturalism is said by proponents of interculturalism, to be an ideology that postulates that all cultures and civilizations are of equal value and should be treated and promoted equally within the same nation. Multiculturalism is often confused with political pluralism, and with ethnic and linguistic diversity, or with interculturalism.

Interculturalism is a political ideology that does not place a priority for all cultures to be on the same level as a basis to organize a given society. Its main objective is rather to develop a common civic culture based on the values of freedom and liberty, and of human rights, as derived from Western civilization, while encouraging interaction between the communities living in the same country. As such, interculturalism requires democracy and full respect for universal human rights. (Multiculturalism has this implicit requirement, particularly in nations like Canada where such expectations are already enforced through acts like the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982).

The insistence on a 'common civic culture' necessarily means a degree of assimilation, leading to the possible interpretation of interculturalism as being an Orwellian term. This is to say, it is no different than assimilation while allowing minorities to be distinct privately, and that the word itself was invented by the nationalist political actors to distract from this. Most nations have 'Little Italies' or 'Chinatowns' that are of course bound to oblige certain principal high ideals and characteristics of the host nation. It is clearly in countries where the dominant culture is perceived as the guarantor of minorities that loyalty is increased, rather than in European nation-states where ghetto dwellers do not integrate. Australia, Canada, the United States and to a significant degree the United Kingdom are far less harmed by that reality.

Interculturalism promotes individual rights for everyone, with no discrimination. This means, in particular, that people have the right to maintain an affiliation with one's ethnic group and the right for cultural and religious differences to be tolerated in the public domain. However, interculturalism claims that the entire society must adhere to the same constitution of fundamental rights and obligations, with no exception. It does not accept that cultural differences are used as an excuse to reduce the rights of certain groups. This approach leads to an ethics of maximum tolerance for an individual's choices and of minimum tolerance for totalitarian and theocratic systems of ideas that could undermine the very foundations of a democratic society.

See also

• Cosmopolitanism
• Criticism of multiculturalism
• Cross-cultural
• Intercultural cities
• Intercultural communication
• Intercultural competence
• Interculturality
• Multiculturalism
• Toleration
• Transculturation

References:

• German opinion of multiculturalism

Further reading

• Open secularism, interculturalism, the fight against discrimination and guidelines for accommodation—Bouchard-Taylor Commission http://www.accommodements.qc.ca/communiques/2008-05-22a-en.html
• Bouchard, Gerard et al, Interculturalism: a model for integration, in the Montreal Gazette March 2, 2011
• Bennett, Milton J. (1998) Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication. Intercultural Press, Boston, MA.
• Kohls, L. Robert; Knight, John M. (1994). Developing Intercultural Awareness. Intercultural Press, Boston, MA.
• Storti, Craig. (1994). Cross- Cultural Dialogues. Intercultural Press, Boston, MA.