Intercultural Dialogue and Cultural Policies

Intercultural dialogue is a process that comprises an open and respectful exchange between individuals, groups and organisations with different cultural backgrounds or world views. Among its aims are: to develop a deeper understanding of different perspectives and practices; to increase participation (or the freedom to make choices); to ensure equality; and to enhance creative processes.

From the point of view of the cultural sector, intercultural dialogue within a country involves public and private cultural / artistic initiatives which bring together individuals/groups from minority/migrant communities together with the majority population in order to enter into a multi-directional communication process. Such dialogue ideally takes place in a shared space where attempts are made to address unequal power relations between those belonging to majority/minority groups. The aim of an intercultural exchange is transformative of all those participating and can result in, for example, the creation of new or hybrid cultural expressions/forms, new image constructions, changed behaviour patterns etc.

The Compendium Addresses Intercultural Dialogue (2002-2008)

In 2002, research on the development of indicators to collect information on policies addressing intercultural dialogue began.  This initial work was supported in part by a grant from the European Cultural Foundation.

In 2003, the Conference of the European Ministers of Culture asked the Compendium Community - via its Opatjia Declaration on Intercultural Dialogue and Conflict Prevention - to study the means to collect and disseminate information on intercultural dialogue and good governance in cultural policy.

In 2004, the Compendium Working Group on Cultural Diversity, Intercultural Dialogue and Social Cohesion, prepared an overview paper highlighting those sections of the Compendium methodological grid where additional indicators could be added and where relevant information on existing policies, programmes and good practice could be collected.

In 2005, Compendium authors applied some of the indicators suggested by the Working Group. The preliminary results were compiled in overview tables together with the results of a survey on good practise carried out in the same year by the Council of Europe's project group on Intercultural Dialogue and Conflict Prevention.

In 2006, the issue of intercultural dialogue was integrated throughout the Compendium grid including information on national policies and strategies demonstrating how intercultural dialogue is promoted among different cultures both within a country and across borders.  New cases of good practice were collected and made available online.

In 2007, the information and case studies provided in the Compendium played an important role in the preparation of a comparative study on national approaches to Intercultural Dialogue in Europe, prepared by the ERICarts Institute for the European Commission entitled Sharing Diversity, 2008. Many Compendium authors participated in the project as national correspondents or special experts.

In January 2008, the "European Year of Intercultural Dialogue" was launched in Ljubljana/Slovenia; the conference included a presentation of main results of the ERICarts study and of the Council of Europe "White Paper" on Intercultural Dialogue.