Intercultural education

The text is the "Foreword" of an international book on Intercultural education. Since several years, Western societies are struggling to find new and appropriate ways to manage ethnic, cultural and religious diversities related to immigration and the formation of immigrant minorities, especially coming from the South of the world. Intercultural policies have gained a significant public favour, as an alternative to multiculturalism, meaning that now the emphasis is placed on dialogue, reciprocal knowledge, mutual understanding, and not any more on the defence of cultural traditions and the formation of strong immigrant communities. Sharing values, in principle enshrined in national constitutions or fundamental laws of hosting societies, is emphasized as a condition to live together in peace. At the same time, tolerance towards cultural diversities is mainly restricted in the private realm, and submitted to the compliance with national norms and customs. Education, even more than in the past, is considered as a fundamental playground to forge peaceful and cohesive societies, beyond ethnic and religious diversities. For this reason, intercultural policies have found in the education system a favoured field of application, often finding in school managers and teachers convinced supporters of the new approach.