Ekatherina Zhukova

Course coordinator, Senior Lecturer in Intercultural Studies

Karlstad University
ekatherina.zhukova@kau.se
1. Information
2. Interculturality
3. Intersectionality
1. Information
 https://www.dn.se/sverige/avhopp-och-sjukskrivning-nar-hogerradikal-aktivist-gor-
content-av-universitetskurs/
 https://www.tv4.se/artikel/4LiwZ4oVUK8B8h09Jx6DZH/hoegerradikal-student-gjorde-
content-av-kursen-haelften-hoppade-av
 https://www.vf.se/2023/09/08/bilden-blir-den-av-ett-kau-som-skyddar-hogerextremisten-
och-inte-dem-han-trakasserar-41c43/
 https://www.dn.se/sverige/regeringen-vill-gora-det-lattare-att-stanga-av-studenter-ny-
lagstiftning-pa-gang/
Questions/comments?
https:/
/www.
youtub
e.com
/watch
?v=rQ
y4gPj
UY-s
2. Interculturality
(focus on ethnic
culture)
 MULTICULTURALISM INTERCULTURALITY

 “internally diverse  “does not emphasize

composition of society group composition but
the kind and quality of
and its segmentation into intergroup relations
different groups” (Dietz within society” (Dietz
2018: 2) 2018: 2)

 Relations between the

 Majority + minorities majority and the
minorities
 Dietz, Gunther (2018) “Interculturality”, in Hilary Callan
(ed.) The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology,Wiley.
CULTURE AS STATIC CULTURE AS DYNAMIC
CULTURE AS STATIC
 “ethnic collectives - tribes, peoples
and nations - are distinct,
homogeneous, coherent and stable
entities that have a lasting influence
on the thinking and actions of their
members” (Haas 2009: 12; cited in
Bolten 2020: 4).
 E.g. Swedes are like this, Americans
are like that…
 Bolten, Juergen (2020) “Rethinking Interculturality: Structure-
Process Perspectives”,
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Juergen-
Bolten/publication/339726754_Rethinking_Interculturality_Struc
ture-
Process_Perspectives/links/5e615c60458515163551e79b/Rethin
king-Interculturality-Structure-Process-Perspectives.pdf.
INTERCONNECTION OF CULTURES
 “Complete incommensurability
between cultural groups in
values and meanings is rare”
(Rattansi 2011: 161).

 We need “more recognition of

interconnected histories”
(Rattansi 2011: 160) to imagine
the world otherwise.
 SAS video film
”What Is Truly
Scandinavian?” –

https://www.yout
ube.com/watch?v
=4yI1wb3j5S8
CULTURE AS DYNAMIC
 “cultural homogeneity assumptions
are clearly no longer convincing due
to omnipresent global and glocal …
interdependencies, …
communication between people with
multiple cultural affiliations
demonstrates the heterogeneous
nature of cultures as well as the
blurred character of their boundaries”
(Bolten 2020: 4).

 E.g. what is Swedish or American

changes over time and depends on
context, situation, or interaction
 INTERCULTRUALITY

 “a dynamic state of knowledge that takes into account on the

one hand cultural differences – at whatever level - and on the
other emphasizes possible joint and mediating cooperation”
(Elberfeld 2008: 26, cited in Bolten 2020: 2)

 “moving away from a focus on the polarity of one’s own

culture and the foreign (with the resulting often hesitant and
defensive reaction to the foreign) towards an awareness of the
possible connections and commonalities whenever we
encounter the foreign. (Welsch 1997: 3; cited in Bolten 2020: 8).
Which bubble do you prefer for interculturality?
Questions?
 2. Intersectionality
(ethnic culture is just
one of categories)
CULTURE? OR STRUCTURE?
CULTURE? OR STRUCTURE?
 Provincialising/de-centering ethnicity (European/non-
European) and culture (Western/non-Western) in Intercultural
Studies

 It is “not just minority ethnic people [who] have ‘culture and

tradition’” (Yuval-Davis 2017: 4)

 There are intersectional differences within cultures and

intersectional similarities between cultures (e.g. class) =>
dynamic understanding of culture
 “Intersectionality analysis relates to the distribution of
power and other resources in society and therefore it
constitutes what in sociology is known as stratification
theory. Stratification, or, rather, social stratification, relates
to the differential hierarchical locations of individuals
and groupings of people on society’s grids of power.”
(Yuval-Davis 2017: 4)
 “criticizing, rejecting, and/or trying to fix social problems
that emerge in situations of social injustice.” (Hill Collins & Bilge
2020: 70)

 cultivating “self-reflexivity of thought, feeling, and action

about one’ own practice.” (Hill Collins & Bilge 2020: 70)

 “imagine alternatives, and/or propose viable action strategies

for change.” (Hill Collins & Bilge 2020: 70)
Questions?