Center for Intercultural Dialogue

Stockholm School of Economics: MERITA Postdoc (Sweden)

Postdoc with MERITA, Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm, Sweden. Deadline: open until position is filled; they prefer a start date in January 2023.

The Center for Responsible Leadership at the Stockholm School of Economics is seeking candidates for a 1-year 80% Post Doc position within the MERITA project. Candidates should have a research background in topics related to migration studies. They especially seek candidates with a multi-disciplinary academic background to organize the research activities of the MERITA project. As a Postdoc in the MERITA project, you will be central to the organization of the forum, the development of a research application and at least one co-authored publication.

CFP Cosmopolitanism in a Postdigital, Postmigrant Europe, and Beyond (Germany but Online)

Call for papers: Cosmopolitanism in a Postdigital, Postmigrant Europe, and Beyond, Researching Digital Interculturality Co-operatively, Germany but Online, 26 June-7 July 2023. Abstract Deadline: 31 January 2023.

The idea of cosmopolitanism remains multifaceted and fit for purpose. It may be seen, for example, as a philosophical concept, or viewed as a theoretical and empirical tool used to describe and understand contemporary society, culture and interculturality. But cultural theory and empirical research have not remained stagnant, and a number of recent ideas have been proered as further theoretical and empirical tools. These include the concepts of postdigitality and postmigrancy. The “post” in these terms does not denote an end (of digitality or migration), but the transformation of a society indissolubly interwoven with digitality and migration. Similarly, the term postmigration implies that the structures of society have been fundamentally altered by migratory processes; supposedly clear dichotomies of “migrant” /“native” or “assimilated” /“segregated” become dissolved, while established distributions of resources and power structures have increasingly been called into question and become renegotiated. Indeed, the mere fact of continuously shaping a (post)migrant society and of being immersed in super-diversity with cultural and linguistic implications needs to be accepted. Thus, the new theoretical and empirical postmigrant and postdigital realities call for new perspectives on the concept of cosmopolitanism and adjoining concepts, such as Europeanism. These ideas, though very applicable to European societies and lifeworlds, are not limited to Europe but are found and may be investigated in a variety of contexts.

A Comedian’s Take on Cultural Differences

Sundermann, Killian. (21 October 2021). Irish and German people offering things. Twitter.

I just ran across this very cute video where comedian Killian Sundermann demonstrates the difference between German and Irish ways of offering cake, and the confusion that ensues.

Irish and German people offering things pic.twitter.com/AoPgWJpK6L

— Killian Sundermann (@killersundymann) October 7, 2021

For further information about the video, which went viral and resulted in 10 million views, watch the 4-minute version, which includes an interview with Sundermann. He grew up in Ireland with German parents, and so obviously has a good sense of how cultural differences can be displayed through interaction. Apparently the incident with the cake is based on reality. He says “I’m really just stealing my family’s stories.”

Weekend Breakfast with Alison Curtis. (3 November 2021). Killian Sundermann chats to Alison Curtis. Today FM.

Either video would make a good classroom resource for teaching about intercultural communication. See also KC1: Intercultural dialogue, and KC5: Intercultural communication.

IREX: Multiple Positions (USA)

Multiple positions, International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), Washington, DC. Deadline: varies by position.

IREX has a surprising number of positions listed currently, including:

NOTE: IREX started as the International Research Exchange in 1968; they’re a non-profit based in Washington, DC. Their current organizational description says: “IREX is a global development and education organization. We focus on people, not on vaccines, roads, or wells. We work in more than 100 countries on issues such as education, leadership, information, and youth.” They currently have over 600 employees around the world.

Anna Lindh Foundation: Several Positions (Egypt)

Several positions are available at the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation, Alexandria, Egypt. Deadline: varies by position.

The Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures (ALF), created in 2005 and based in Alexandria, Egypt, is registered by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an international intergovernmental organisation. Its aim, according to its statutes, is to promote the dialogue between cultures and to contribute to the visibility of the Barcelona Process through intellectual, cultural and civil society exchanges.

Corporate Communication Manager. Deadline: 4 December 2022.

The Corporate Communication Manager, working from the ALF Headquarters in Alexandria, Egypt, will have the overall responsibility to lead and oversee the Foundation’s internal and external communication strategy, ensuring that its message is consistent and engaging; direct the communication team; supervise the communication budget and develop, implement and coordinate all the ALF communications activities and campaigns in line with the ALF Multiannual Work Programme 2022-2025.

Civil Society Manager. Deadline: 12 December 2022.

The Civil Society Manager, following the indications of the Executive Director, leads the ALF Secretariat action towards its Civil Society National Networks; ensures well-oiled internal and external coordination schemes and procedures; actively contributes to the fundraising strategy of the Foundation, directs the Civil Society team; supervises the assigned budget and develops, implements and coordinates all the ALF Civil Society Unit activities in line with the ALF Multiannual Work Programme 2022-2025.

Introducing ICD in Kindergarten (Germany)

In a few locations within Germany, interfaith cooperation is leading to Christian/Muslim or Christian/Jewish/Muslim kindergartens.

Gifhorn – a small town in Lower Saxony – started Germany’s first Christian/Muslim kindergarten in 2018, after several years of planning and organization.

The vision fostered by local religious leaders sees kindergarten as a novel form of institutionalised dialogue, producing “conflict mediators” and “resilient children” who are “less prone to violence”.

An opposition campaign by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) backfired, and actually ended up increasing enrollment in the school. For a well-balanced report, and links to information about several other interfaith kindergartens in Germany, see the Emmerich article.

Source: Emmerich, Arndt-Walter. (2022). Germany’s first Christian-Muslim kindergarten. Quantara.de.

CFP IMISCOE: Migration & Inequalities (Poland & online)

Call for papers: 20th IMISCOE Annual Conference: Migration and Inequalities: In Search of Answers and Solutions, 3-6 July 2023, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland (and online). Deadline: 5 December 2022.

Inequalities invariably intertwine with migration. On the micro-scale, socio-economic inequalities shape the propensity to migrate. On a macro-scale, South-North and East-West dynamics act as migration drivers. Recent mobility-related debates include inequalities as developmental outcomes of migration, as an implication of social and economic remittances, and as an issue to be addressed by public policies. Inequality-related challenges are also discussed in the context of gender, ethnic and racial disparities, urban segregation, or labour market segmentation in receiving countries. Inequalities intertwine with migration knowledge production. Postcolonial power relations determine who gets to define the research agenda, who receives research funding and, consequently, who gets to theorise migration knowledge.

There is a growing need for scientific and political discussion on new inequalities and challenges for the future, such as the demographic, climate and technological changes, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the mass forced migration following conflicts such as the current war in Ukraine. As an efficient public response is still lacking, research and academic debates are much needed to support political decision-making processes. The focus on inequalities of the 2023 IMISCOE Annual Conference can facilitate the strengthening of topics in IMISCOE debates, from different methodological approaches (quantitative and qualitative) and various disciplinary focuses (including but not limited to economics, sociology, demography, political science, anthropology, law, history and geography).

UNAOC: Intercultural Innovation Hub 2023

Intercultural Innovation Hub, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and BMW Group. Deadline: 2 December 2022.

Apply now to become the Next Global Changemakers. The new Intercultural Innovation Hub of UNAOC and the BMW Group connects people and cultures, empowers grassroots organizations and elevates intercultural innovation. Selected projects promoting diversity, integration and social inclusion will work towards achieving sustainable growth. Participants will benefit from a financial grant of up to 20,000 USD plus a year of capacity-building workshops, customized support, and membership to the “Intercultural Leaders” global networking platform.

Since 2011, UNAOC and the BMW Group have worked with leaders and organizations from around the globe to tackle intercultural challenges through social innovations. With the new Intercultural Innovation Hub, our mission is to connect people and cultures, empower grassroots organizations, as well as elevate and scale up intercultural innovation. To this end, organizations promoting diversity, integration and social inclusion are invited to become part of the hub and benefit from comprehensive support to expand the social impact of their projects.

The Intercultural Innovation Hub is focused on supporting projects that promote gender equality, counter violent extremism, hatred, and prejudice, and advocate for art, culture and sports as vectors for social cohesion and diversity, through:

Financial support for sustainable growth: To leverage the social impact of the selected projects, up to ten finalists will receive up to 20,000 USD each to help their initiative scale up sustainably.
One-year capacity-building program: UNAOC and BMW Group with the support of Accenture, will provide the recipients a year-long series of capacity-building workshops and customized support.
Membership to the “Intercultural Leaders” community: Participants will be part of a global network of changemakers working in the fields of social inclusion and diversity.

UNESCO Initiative “Arab Latinos!” to Promote ICD in Brazil

UNESCO. (2022, August 31). “Arab Latinos!” initiative promotes intercultural dialogue for social cohesion.

Building on the centuries-old ties between the Arab region and Latin America and the Caribbean, UNESCO organized the first expert meeting on “Arab Latinos!” in São Paulo, Brazil, on 22 August 2022. The main purpose of this initiative of UNESCO Social and Human Sciences Sector is to encourage intercultural dialogue and tolerance for social cohesion.

The event, hosted by the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, took place on 23 – 24 August 2022 in São Paulo, kicked off by an official ceremony followed by an expert meeting. The discussions between fifteen experts from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico resulted in a five-year Plan of Action for a potential new route of intercultural dialogue at UNESCO. The proposed Plan of action would be articulated over four pillars: 1) Research and Knowledge production; 2) Awareness-raising; 3) Capacity-building; and 4) International Coalition.

Since the end of the 19th century, significant migratory flows from the Arab countries arrived in Latin America and the Caribbean. Today the population of Arab descent in the region is currently estimated to be between 17 and 20 million.

KC95 Transnational Media Translated into Turkish

Continuing translations of Key Concepts in Intercultural Dialogue, today I am posting KC95: Transnational media, which Suman Mishra wrote for publication in English in 2020, and which Candost Aydın has now translated into Turkish.

As always, all Key Concepts are available as free PDFs; just click on the thumbnail to download. Lists of Key Concepts organized chronologically by publication date and number, alphabetically by concept, and by languages into which they have been translated, are available, as is a page of acknowledgments with the names of all authors, translators, and reviewers.
Mishra, S. (2022). Transnationale medien. (C. Aydın, Trans.). Key Concepts in Intercultural Dialogue, 95. Available from: https://centerforinterculturaldialogue.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/kc95-transnational-media_turkish.pdf

If you are interested in translating one of the Key Concepts, please contact me for approval first because dozens are currently in process. As always, if there is a concept you think should be written up as one of the Key Concepts, whether in English or any other language, propose it. If you are new to CID, please provide a brief resume. This opportunity is open to masters students and above, on the assumption that some familiarity with academic conventions generally, and discussion of intercultural dialogue specifically, are useful.

Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz, Director
Center for Intercultural Dialogue

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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