European dilemma

European values challenged

About European unity

Haven’t you asked yourself every now and then how are the soon to be 27 Member States to find unity? We have. Are you worried about current developments in Europe? We are.

Research says that EU citizens mostly identify themselves with their home societies. However, the composition of the population of European nation states has changed. So we now must ask ourselves how to keep the peace across ethnical, cultural and linguistic diversity?

The host societies are interested in maintaining their national culture. They teach their language and promote their values to all residents alike. But the ethnocultural groups living in those societies insist pursuing their own cultural traditions. Many resist to integrate into the dominant cultures. This conflict of cultural interests can cause mutual disappointment, and lead to poor communication and mistrust. Sadly, such outcome violates the very idea of Europe.

About tolerance and respect

Tolerance and respect are both European values, but they are not synonyms. Tolerance means that those who have the power to punish, restrict, or make something difficult, consciously choose not to do so. Respect, however, must be earned. It can’t be enacted by law. According to the Austrian-British philosopher and Professor Karl Popper, people should always have the right not to respect the disrespectful.

About multiculturalism and interculturalism

Ever more societies can be considered multicultural. Multiculturalism responses to the reality of cultural diversity by taking into account new cultures without building a real connection between the host culture and the culture(s) of newcomers.

Interculturalism, on the other side, refers to the true interaction between different cultures. Intercultural approach means to be mindful of other people, to learn to be alert and open to experience of otherness.

Experts say

The Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstede sees culture as an onion consisting of invisible layers (the values that lie in the very core), and visible layers (the identities that manifest in rituals, heroes, and symbols). While identities are based on mutual image, stereotypes and practices, the values determine what is good, desirable, natural, moral and safe. On the example of Belgium and Northern Ireland, Hofstede claims that those populations who fight each other on the basis of their different identities may very well share the same values.

According to the Canadian political philosopher Will Kymlicka, there are three types of ethno-cultural groups: national minorities, immigrants and metics. National minorities are the groups that origin from complete and functioning societies in their historic homeland prior to emigrating. Typically, these people prefer building their own nation over integration. Secondly, immigrants have entered their host country under an immigration policy that will eventually give them the right to become citizens. Unlike national minorities, immigrants traditionally accept integration without actively pursuing their own ethnic interests. Finally, metics have entered the host country either illegally or as students or guest-workers. As they do not have the opportunity to become citizens, their integration is unlikely.

We say

On the one hand, the host country should shift their policies from multicultural to intercultural, and implement compulsory intercultural education to all its members alike. On the other hand, ethno-cultural groups should master the language as well as appreciate the values and norms of the host country. As no one is willing to sacrifice their national identities -- the whole process might take a very long time.

One thing teachers can do is to run transnational educational projects. In fact, we truly believe that such initiatives as Erasmus+ are a great way to instil a better understanding between different nations. Still, are European teachers ready to encourage our students, native or immigrant, to think outside their own 'cultural box'? Are they willing to reconsider our attitudes and beliefs towards other cultures? Do they feel comfortable with teaching newcomers? Do they actually know how to encourage intercultural understanding in our increasingly multinational classrooms?