Unity in Diversity : intercultural dialogue, an instrument for integration
Unity in Diversity : intercultural dialogue, an instrument for integration
Samenvatting
Although minorities make up only 5-10% of the population in Europe, they receive a lot of negative attention in the media. Minorities are blamed for issues that range from a country's economic problems to cultural disharmony. As a result, the ethnic minorities feel as though they are on the outer edge of society. They have fewer prospects, which lead to problems regarding good housing, social acceptance, employment, and higher education. These problems occur not only between the minorities and the Dutch, but also among the different minority groups.
Throughout different Treaties and Declarations, the EU tries to safeguard the cultural diversity within and beyond the EU. It tries to support the Member States to work together to foster Intercultural Dialogue to ensure that the EU's cultural diversity is understood, respected and promoted. An instrument to reach this objective is the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, 2008. This Year is based on the wealth and diversity of a series of specific projects to be implemented in 2008 through community programmes and other activities. It covers primarily topics in the field of culture, education, youth, sport and citizenship.
Intercultural Dialogue (ICD) can only take place in an environment where different views can be expressed without fear. The national ICD approaches in the Member States are based on either social cohesion or cultural diversity. The social cohesion approach aims for a more unified society, internal security, economic growth, and equal opportunities for all individuals and groups. The cultural diversity approach is more focused on mutual understanding of cultures and a better way to live together. To prevent segregation at schools, the education Council created recommendations, which are focused on active citizenship. Pupils learn at school how to participate in a community.
On the whole, it can be concluded that there is an important role for education institutions concerning the integration of minority youth. Intercultural Dialogue can be a useful instrument for this integration process. Not only the EU, but also the Council of Europe and UNESCO have structured many projects on different levels regarding Intercultural Dialogue. These projects can be very useful for education. However, in order to create an Intercultural Dialogue in the classroom, a school needs to have a clear vision. Teachers have to be aware of this vision and have to know how to put this in practice. Only on this basis will an Intercultural Dialogue work.
Organisatie | De Haagse Hogeschool |
Opleiding | ESC Hogere Europeses Beroepen Opleiding |
Afdeling | Academie voor European Studies & Communication |
Partner | Neth-ER (Netherlands house for Education and Research) |
Jaar | 2008 |
Type | Bachelor |
Taal | Engels |