Through the Looking-glass of Interculturality: Autocritiques

This book emphasizes the importance of honest and constructive dialogue between scholars and educators of interculturality, especially from different geopolitical spheres. It explores the contested notion of interculturality, co-written by two scholars who have never met before. The authors engage in multifaceted dialogues and intercommunicate, sharing while accepting disagreements. They propose autocritiquing as a way to unthink and rethink interculturality, emphasizing the need for constant self-reflection, examining positionality, listening to voices, and operating transformations in thinking.

Format: Hardback
Length: 118 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This book delves into the urgent need for honest and constructive dialogue between scholars and educators specializing in interculturality, particularly from diverse geopolitical backgrounds. It explores the concept of interculturality, a multifaceted notion employed in various fields of research. Co-authored by two scholars who had never met before, the book serves as a testament to the power of intellectual and personal connections. Through their collaborative writing process, the authors engage in intricate dialogues, sharing ideas while respectfully acknowledging differing perspectives. The diverse backgrounds of the co-authors, including geography, generation, status, and multilingual identity, are brought to the forefront, creating a rich tapestry of perspectives. These diverse backgrounds are confronted, mirrored, and negotiated within the chapters, leading to a joint exploration of aspirations related to interculturality in communication and education.

While presenting their current interpretations of interculturality, the authors also conduct self-reflexive autocritiques, examining their past and present engagements with the concept. The book raises important questions such as who is currently dominating the discourse on interculturality, whose voices are marginalized, and how to challenge and disrupt existing hegemonies surrounding the notion. It advocates for promoting epistemological plurality in the discourses and narratives that shape our understanding of interculturality.

Autocritiquing is proposed as a means of continuous unthinking and rethinking interculturality, encouraging a perpetual exploration of its complexities. The book emphasizes the importance of engaging with interculturality through constant self-reflection, examining one's positionality and intersectionality, and actively listening to the voices that one projects onto the world. By doing so, the authors hope to contribute to a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of interculturality and its significance in today's globalized world.

Weight: 371g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811966712
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022