Communicating the Other across Cultures: From Othering as Equipment for Living, to Communicating Other/Wise

Cultural Othering can lead to atrocities and marginalized people fight back against dominant powers. Julia Khrebtan-HÖrhager's book demonstrates historical patterns of Othering and how marginalized people fight back. It affects information in history books, children's education, and values upheld in society. By exposing the communicative patterns of those in power, she suggests alternative ways of thinking, communicating, and being that offer transformative solutions for global problems.

Format: Hardback
Length: 348 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

Political and social decisions that rely on categories of identity, such as race, religion, social class, or nationality, can perpetuate harmful ideologies of imperialism, colonialism, patriarchy, and classism. These ideologies position certain groups as superior or idealized, while marginalizing and excluding others. This cultural Othering can lead to atrocities such as the expulsion of Native Americans from their native lands, the starvation of millions of Ukrainians during the Holodomor, and the extermination of millions of Jews during the Holocaust.

Julia Khrebtan-HÖrhager's book "Communicating the Other across Cultures" explores historical patterns of Othering and how marginalized people fight back against dominant powers. She uses examples from the United States, Western Europe, and Russia to demonstrate how different societies have created ideas of social and cultural superiority or inferiority and how deeply they are ingrained in our current society.

In everyday life, certain cultural ideologies are consistently upheld, while others are silenced. By exposing the communicative patterns of those in power, Khrebtan-HÖrhager suggests alternative ways of thinking, communicating, and being that offer transformative solutions for a more inclusive and equitable world.

One of the key themes of the book is the importance of recognizing and challenging the power dynamics that perpetuate Othering. Khrebtan-HÖrhager argues that these power dynamics are often invisible and normalized, but they have a profound impact on individuals and communities. She provides examples of how marginalized people have resisted and challenged these power dynamics, such as through activism, resistance, and cultural production.

Another important theme of the book is the role of language in Othering. Language can be used to create and reinforce stereotypes, and it can also be used to challenge and dismantle them. Khrebtan-HÖrhager provides examples of how language can be used to promote empathy and understanding, and how it can be used to challenge and dismantle harmful ideologies.

The book also explores the impact of Othering on individuals and communities. Khrebtan-HÖrhager argues that Othering can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and anxiety, and it can also lead to physical and emotional harm. She provides examples of how individuals and communities have responded to Othering, such as through self-reflection, healing, and activism.

In conclusion, "Communicating the Other across Cultures" is a powerful and important book that explores historical patterns of Othering and how marginalized people fight back against dominant powers. Julia Khrebtan-HÖrhager provides examples of how different societies have created ideas of social and cultural superiority or inferiority, and how deeply they are ingrained in our current society. By recognizing and challenging the power dynamics that perpetuate Othering, we can create a more inclusive and equitable world for all individuals and communities.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472076529