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Intercultural Dialogue Intercultural Dialogue Leading to Leading to ‘Integration’?‘Integration’?

S. Paul VerluytenS. Paul VerluytenUniversity of AntwerpUniversity of Antwerp

SoLLs.INTEC.O9 Language and Culture, Malaysia, 5-6 May 2009

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Evanoff 2004 & 2006Evanoff 2004 & 2006 Richard J. Evanoff, ‘Universalist, relativist and Richard J. Evanoff, ‘Universalist, relativist and

constructivist approaches to intercultural constructivist approaches to intercultural ethics’, ethics’, International Journal of Intercultural International Journal of Intercultural Relations,Relations, 28:5 (2004), 439-458 28:5 (2004), 439-458

Richard J. Evanoff, ‘Integration in Intercultural Richard J. Evanoff, ‘Integration in Intercultural Ethics’, Ethics’, International Journal of Intercultural International Journal of Intercultural Relations,Relations, 30:4 (2006), 421-437 30:4 (2006), 421-437

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Richard J. Evanoff, ‘Universalist, relativist Richard J. Evanoff, ‘Universalist, relativist and constructivist approaches to and constructivist approaches to intercultural ethics’, intercultural ethics’, IJIR,IJIR, 28:5 (2004), 28:5 (2004), 439-458439-458

UniversalismUniversalism1.1. Transcendental (deductive): «ours»Transcendental (deductive): «ours»2.2. Common core (inductive): never foundCommon core (inductive): never found

RelativismRelativism– Not a good basis for IC dialogueNot a good basis for IC dialogue

→ → ConstructivismConstructivism– There are no universal values at the outset, but There are no universal values at the outset, but

through dialogue between cultures we can build such through dialogue between cultures we can build such universal values togetheruniversal values together

– «Both sides critically reflect on what is positive and «Both sides critically reflect on what is positive and negative within their respective traditions and negative within their respective traditions and imaginatively seek to integrate positive aspects of imaginatively seek to integrate positive aspects of both traditions into a wider conceptual framework.»both traditions into a wider conceptual framework.»

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Richard J. Evanoff, ‘Integration in Richard J. Evanoff, ‘Integration in Intercultural Ethics’, Intercultural Ethics’, International Journal International Journal of Intercultural Relations,of Intercultural Relations, 30:4 (2006), 30:4 (2006), 421-437421-437

Relationship Relationship with other with other groupsgroups

No relationship No relationship with other with other groupsgroups

Maintain own Maintain own cultural cultural identityidentity

IntegrationIntegration SeparationSeparation

Fail to Fail to maintain own maintain own cultural cultural identityidentity

AssimilationAssimilation MarginalizatioMarginalizationn

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Integration vs. Integration vs. adaptationadaptation Adaptation = sojourners adapt to the Adaptation = sojourners adapt to the

norms of the host culturenorms of the host culture Integration = “individuals changing Integration = “individuals changing

themselves to fit into their host cultures themselves to fit into their host cultures but also [.] the process by which host but also [.] the process by which host cultures transform themselves to cultures transform themselves to accomodate the presence of sojourners accomodate the presence of sojourners (2006:424)(2006:424)

Integration “requires immigrants to Integration “requires immigrants to adoptadopt the basic values of the receiving society”the basic values of the receiving society”

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Richard J. Evanoff, ‘Integration in Richard J. Evanoff, ‘Integration in Intercultural Ethics’, Intercultural Ethics’, International Journal International Journal of Intercultural Relations,of Intercultural Relations, 30:4 (2006), 30:4 (2006), 421-437421-437 ““Integration”...Integration”...

– ““aims at ‘mutual accommodation’ between aims at ‘mutual accommodation’ between different cultural groups”different cultural groups”

– both sides “engaging in constructive criticism both sides “engaging in constructive criticism of the values and norms of both cultures” and of the values and norms of both cultures” and ““construct[ing] construct[ing] new norms across cultural new norms across cultural lines”.lines”.

→→ ““Third cultures”Third cultures” (Useem 1971), (Useem 1971), “hybridity”“hybridity” (Werbner&Modood 1997), (Werbner&Modood 1997), “dynamic inbetweenness”“dynamic inbetweenness” (Yoshikawa (Yoshikawa 1987).1987).

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Critique of EvanoffCritique of Evanoff

1.1. Always asymmetrical, Always asymmetrical, unidirectionalunidirectional

2.2. Inherent tendency toward Inherent tendency toward homogenizationhomogenization

3.3. Poor basis for a multicultural Poor basis for a multicultural societysociety

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““Dialogue between Dialogue between equals”?equals”? «Moral suasion can still be regarded as a «Moral suasion can still be regarded as a

legitimate tactic in cross-cultural dialogue, legitimate tactic in cross-cultural dialogue, provided that all sides are allowed to fully provided that all sides are allowed to fully participate in the process in an open and participate in the process in an open and uncoerced manner.» (Evanoff 2004)uncoerced manner.» (Evanoff 2004)

«In an interdependent world, if culture A «In an interdependent world, if culture A objects strenuously enough to a practice in objects strenuously enough to a practice in culture B, culture B may fear a loss of foreign culture B, culture B may fear a loss of foreign aid and other privileges.» (Alison Dundes aid and other privileges.» (Alison Dundes Renteln, Renteln, International Human Rights: International Human Rights: Universalism vs. Relativism, Universalism vs. Relativism, 1990)1990)

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Evanoff’s (few) Evanoff’s (few) examples...examples... «Asians as a whole, not just leaders and intellectuals, «Asians as a whole, not just leaders and intellectuals,

should be given the opportunity to decide if they should be given the opportunity to decide if they prefer to stick to Asian values—or perhaps to embrace prefer to stick to Asian values—or perhaps to embrace Western human rights or selectively combine the Western human rights or selectively combine the two.» (2004:455)two.» (2004:455)

““Japanese society could become more oriented Japanese society could become more oriented towards individualistic values (which in fact is the towards individualistic values (which in fact is the direction Japan seems to heading in) or America could direction Japan seems to heading in) or America could become more oriented towards collectivist values become more oriented towards collectivist values (which Western communitarians would urge us (which Western communitarians would urge us towards).” (2006:429)towards).” (2006:429)

→ → AsymmetryAsymmetry

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The illusion of a The illusion of a ‘dialogue between ‘dialogue between equals’equals’ Competing constructs get a ‘fair Competing constructs get a ‘fair

hearing’hearing’– Did the Japanese really get a fair hearing of both Did the Japanese really get a fair hearing of both

their own traditional, ‘collectivist’ system of hiring their own traditional, ‘collectivist’ system of hiring and firing practices (such as life-time employment) and firing practices (such as life-time employment) and the American system (where firing a worker is and the American system (where firing a worker is a lot easier and more common), and then ‘decided’ a lot easier and more common), and then ‘decided’ that they prefer the latter?that they prefer the latter?

– Did Americans get fair exposure to the Japanese Did Americans get fair exposure to the Japanese value system which involves life-time employment value system which involves life-time employment and then decided to reject it?and then decided to reject it?Asymmetry → HomogenizationAsymmetry → Homogenization

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““Better” : Western Better” : Western biasbias «It is […] impossible for individuals who have «It is […] impossible for individuals who have

been exposed to these differences to simply been exposed to these differences to simply accept them all on equal terms. Inevitably, accept them all on equal terms. Inevitably, distinctions will be made between what is distinctions will be made between what is considered ‘good’ and ‘bad’ in any given considered ‘good’ and ‘bad’ in any given culture. »culture. »

«[It can] be argued that competing «[It can] be argued that competing constructions can be evaluated according to constructions can be evaluated according to the pragmatic criterion of how well they the pragmatic criterion of how well they enable us to get along in the world.»enable us to get along in the world.»

““Realize their full potential”Realize their full potential”– A monk, a Wall Street stock brokerA monk, a Wall Street stock broker– an Indonesian woman saving for her funeralan Indonesian woman saving for her funeral

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Homogeneism...Homogeneism... Hybridity, “third cultures”Hybridity, “third cultures” Possible for immigrants to create a Possible for immigrants to create a

“third space” in which various aspects “third space” in which various aspects of both the dominant and the of both the dominant and the immigrant culture are hybridized” immigrant culture are hybridized” (2006:423)(2006:423)– ‘‘for immigrants’?? Or “mutual for immigrants’?? Or “mutual

accomodation”?accomodation”?– melting pot or salad bowl?melting pot or salad bowl?

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Fear of Fear of la différencela différence Leads to Leads to

homogeneismhomogeneism Whipes out Whipes out

cultural diversitycultural diversity May lead to May lead to

ethnic cleansingethnic cleansing ““What is What is

different, is different, is dangerous”dangerous”

The island of Cyprus before andafter the Greek-Turkish conflict

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Successful examples of Successful examples of multicultural societiesmulticultural societies Hassidic Jews in AntwerpHassidic Jews in Antwerp

Parsis in India (Mumbai)Parsis in India (Mumbai)

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In business In business communication...communication... June Francis, When in Rome...? The effects of cultural June Francis, When in Rome...? The effects of cultural

adaptation on intercultural business negotiations. adaptation on intercultural business negotiations. Journal of International Business Studies Journal of International Business Studies 19911991,, 22(3), 22(3), 403-428403-428– American’s responses to the American’s responses to the simulatedsimulated behavior of behavior of

“Japanese and Korean business people”“Japanese and Korean business people”– Three degrees of adaptation:Three degrees of adaptation:

substantialsubstantial moderatemoderate no adaptationno adaptation

Results:Results:– Moderate adaptation > No adaptation > Moderate adaptation > No adaptation >

Substantial adaptationSubstantial adaptation

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In business In business communication...communication... Behavior not consciously Behavior not consciously

monitoredmonitored– E.g. eye contactE.g. eye contact

Risk of inappropriate attempts at Risk of inappropriate attempts at adaptationadaptation– Japanese trying to be more ‘direct’Japanese trying to be more ‘direct’– HypercorrectionHypercorrection

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Beware of attempts Beware of attempts to adapt!to adapt!

Don’t be afraid of Don’t be afraid of la la différence!différence!

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Beauty...Beauty...Sexy...Sexy...

Raoni Metuktire,Kayapo Indian chief (Brazil)

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Western Western Individualism.Individualism.....