Johdanto uuteen kulttuurienväliseen viestintään ja kasvatukseen

The notion of the ‘intercultural’ has a long history in different fields of research and practice around the world. It is also very much used by decision-makers and businessmen alike. Today an increasing number of researchers and practitioners agree that the intercultural has become so polysemic and confusing that it needs to be examined from critical perspectives. Using concrete examples from different contexts where the intercultural is to be found this book proposes to clarify the many words that are used in research and practice to talk about encounters between people from different countries. The authors also ask the following questions: Are these concepts and notions different or similar? How can we research the phenomena they attempt to describe? How to relate current criticisms of these terms and research methods? Can the intercultural be learnt and taught? The following topics are covered: the old and contested concept of culture; from identity to identification; the meaning of the ‘inter’ of intercultural; language and the intercultural; complexifying the analysis of intercultural phenomena; and ethical responsibilities of researchers and practitioners. The book provides novice as well as confirmed researchers interested in intercultural communication and education with up-to-date, lesser known and critical knowledge about how to do research on these phenomena and how to challenge old and unsatisfactory ways of conceptualising and working on the intercultural.