Intercultural dialogue

Definition

The British Council defines intercultural dialogue as:

Intercultural dialogue is a key programme area for cultural relations.

Aims

Through its work in intercultural dialogue, the British Council aims to:

• Strengthen understanding and levels of trust between people in the UK and other societies
• Strengthen the consensus for rejecting extremism in all its forms
• Increase the ability of individuals and organisations to contribute to positive social change and the strengthening of civil society
• Increase the use of English as a tool for international communication and inter-cultural understanding.

For more information and examples view the ICD booklet. 

ICD in practice

"You can clarify a lot of misconceptions by bringing people together," observed pop star Abrar ul Haq in his address to a British Council conference in Manchester in January 2009, describing the work of his charitable foundation alongside the British Council in Pakistan. His audience was largely made up of representatives of local government and community organisations in the UK, an example of the British Council bringing its international perspective to British debates about social cohesion and community affairs.

Intercultural dialogue explores difference, insisting not on agreement but on listening with respect. Its practical outcome for the UK is lasting international relationships based on trust and understanding.

These relationships withstand changing circumstances: they are an investment in a valuable sustaining resource for the UK's interaction with the global community.

Intercultural dialogue is the area of cultural relations where culture, identity and politics converge and overlap. Sensitive, informed engagement in this area is vital to the UK's long-term interests and relationships. This requires awareness and careful interpretation of different conditions and issues as they affect specific regions, so the knowledge and experience found in our worldwide network are a crucial asset. In our work, we want to draw on the advantages of scale, and the benefits of working globally; but we understand well that cultural relations is an intensely local affair!

Times change and the methods of engagement change too but now more than ever cultural relations play a critical part in international affairs: intercultural dialogue is a particularly sensitive area of cultural relations, inherently contentious and open to different, contradictory interpretations. Mutual respect - not the same as mutual approval - is crucial. Reasoned disagreement builds stronger, more authentic and lasting relationships. Avoiding difficult questions (such as political conflict or differences in values) is counterproductive: addressing them directly and with respect builds trust.

Partnership, in the earliest planning stages as much as in later implementation, is essential to the British Council's work. We draw on the distinct advantage of our international network of knowledge and experience, in order to meet the challenge of combining global impact with relevance to local situations. We maximise this advantage for the long-term benefit of the UK's international cultural relations by working strategically alongside organisations - large and small, public and private, British and international - whose resources and competencies complement ours.

Looking to the future

The first ten years of the 21st Century were characterised by an urgency to understand each other better. The second ten years will be more about learning to live together in ways that promote security, prosperity and environmental sustainability. Cultural relationships, and intercultural dialogue in particular, make a significant contribution to this challenging agenda.

Cultural relations provides the means, opportunities and skills required by people, organisations and communities to work successfully together. Through working together, we can better understand and share approaches to the challenges confronting us during this age of globalisation.

Drawing on a wide range of knowledge and experience from across disciplines, communities and cultures allows us to explore and develop shared understanding. For everyone. Solutions can only be found if we are open to different ways of thinking, new insights, taking risks and the perceptions of others.