© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

it changes everything!

multicollectivity

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

our old cultural paradigm: people belonging primarily to one culture

situation problem objective approach results plea

person A

culture A culture B

person B

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

our old cultural paradigm: people belonging primarily to one culture

situation problem objective approach results plea

one individual belonging primarily

to one culture

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

our old cultural paradigm: people belonging primarily to one culture

situation problem objective approach results plea

clear cultural borders

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

our old cultural paradigm: people belonging primarily to one culture

situation problem objective approach results plea

homogeneous cultures

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

our old cultural paradigm: people belonging primarily to one culture

situation problem objective approach results plea

similarities between people from the same

culture

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

the traditional concept of interculturality: an objective situation outside the normal

situation problem objective approach results plea

interculturality = collision of two worlds

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

the traditional concept of interculturality: an objective situation outside the normal

situation problem objective approach results plea

interculturality = collision of two worlds

unusual, not normal

situation

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

the traditional concept of interculturality: an objective situation outside the normal

situation problem objective approach results plea

interculturality = collision of two worlds

situation can be identified

objectively

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

the traditional concept of interculturality: an objective situation outside the normal

situation problem objective approach results plea

interculturality = collision of two worlds

arising con!lict highly likely

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

traditional intercultural trainings: explain cultural differences between those “primary“ cultures

situation problem objective approach results plea

ignorance of other culture

ignorance of other culture

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

traditional intercultural trainings: explain cultural differences between those “primary“ cultures

situation problem objective approach results plea

ignorance of other culture

ignorance of other culture

intercultural training:

•  spread knowledge about cultural di"ferences

•  prevent con!lict

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

traditional intercultural trainings lead to four major problems that question their effectiveness

situation problem objective approach results plea

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

traditional intercultural trainings lead to four major problems that question their effectiveness

situation problem objective approach results plea

1

generalization •  pretend to be able to

tell how others are

•  reduce individuals to a group membership

•  disseminate falsities

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

traditional intercultural trainings lead to four major problems that question their effectiveness

situation problem objective approach results plea

perpetuation •  claim „eternal“ di"ferences

•  keep people in permanent state of emergency

2

1

generalization •  pretend to be able to

tell how others are

•  reduce individuals to a group membership

•  disseminate falsities

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

traditional intercultural trainings lead to four major problems that question their effectiveness

situation problem objective approach results plea

perpetuation •  claim „eternal“ di"ferences

•  keep people in permanent state of emergency

2

rivalry •  construct adverse

groups

•  foster out-group dynamics

3

1

generalization •  pretend to be able to

tell how others are

•  reduce individuals to a group membership

•  disseminate falsities

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

situation problem objective approach results plea

generalization •  pretend to be able to

tell how others are

•  reduce individuals to a group membership

•  disseminate falsities 1

perpetuation •  claim „eternal“ di"ferences

•  keep people in permanent state of emergency

2

rivalry •  construct adverse

groups

•  foster out-group dynamics

3 red herring

•  pretend that con!licts can be avoided through some kind of knowledge

•  try to solve the wrong problem

4

traditional intercultural trainings lead to four major problems that question their effectiveness

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

if we want to solve these problems we need new trainings

based on a different cultural paradigm

situation problem objective approach results plea

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

situation problem objective approach results plea

What‘s wrong with this picture?

let‘s start from scratch

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

we are all michelin men

situation problem objective approach results plea

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

the concept of multicollectivity can help reshape our cultural paradigm

situation problem objective approach results plea

german woman

professor pearl jam fan

berliner

scientist

heterosexual

sister

civil servant

schleswig-holsteiner

choir member

daughter

couch potatoe

european

owner of a convertible

godmother

forty-something

mba

ukulele player

schöneberger

church member

anti-smoking

entj personality type

apple aficionada

star trek fan

early bird

...

multi-collectivity

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

multicollectivity: people navigate between memberships depending on context

situation problem objective approach results plea

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

multicollectivity: people navigate between memberships depending on context

situation problem objective approach results plea

country soccer league

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

multicollectivity: people navigate between memberships depending on context

situation problem objective approach results plea

world championship

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

multicollectivity: people navigate between memberships depending on context

situation problem objective approach results plea

christopher street day

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

multicollectivity: people navigate between memberships depending on context

situation problem objective approach results plea

metal festival

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

multicollectivity: we are not icebergs nor are we in constant flux

situation problem objective approach results plea

iceberg identity concept

flux identity concept

•  static

•  claims homogeneity and coherence of identity

•  implies cultural determinism

•  no connection to modern reality

•  !luent / undefined / arbitrary

•  implies randomness of identity

•  fails to explain relative stability of identity

•  fails to explain strong human identifications

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

the concept of multicollectivity can help reshape our understanding of human identity

situation problem objective approach results plea

iceberg identity concept

flux identity concept

multicollectivity concept

•  relative stabilitycollective memberships marked by clear boundaries

•  flexibilityindividuals add and end group memberships

•  relevance of context navigation through memberships depending on context (virulence)

•  radical individuality unique combination of memberhips and cultural in!luences

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

multicollectivity: whenever individuals interact a multitude of cultures are involved

situation problem objective approach results plea

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

multicollectivity: interculturality depends on the perception of the involved

situation problem objective approach results plea

missing link

interculturality •  when people have something to do with each other

and perceive the other as not belonging to them

•  when those memberships become virulent that we don‘t share with the involved

he doesn‘t belong

to us

she doesn‘t belong

to us

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

intercultural training based on a new cultural paradigm: help people deal with dynamics of collective dissociation

situation problem objective approach results plea

downward spiral of collective

dissociation

unfamiliarity attribution to di"ferent memberships

feeling estranged / excluded

feeling threatened exclusion /

discrimination rivalry

stigmatization attempt to destruct

he doesn‘t belong

to us

she doesn‘t belong

to us

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

intercultural training based on a new cultural paradigm: help people initiate cohesive dynamics

situation problem objective approach results plea

upward spiral of cohesion

establish normality

establish familiarity

discover common memberhips establish new

memberships

participation

appreciation

culture production

he doesn‘t belong

to us

she doesn‘t belong

to us

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

intercultural training based on a new cultural paradigm: help people initiate cohesive dynamics

situation problem objective approach results plea

he belongs to me

she belongs to me

upward spiral of cohesion

establish normality

establish familiarity

discover common memberhips establish new

memberships

participation

appreciation

culture production

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

work on developingthese new forms of intercultural training

and help save the world!

situation problem objective approach results plea

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

let‘s stop telling people they‘re like this

situation problem objective approach results plea

© prof. dr. stefanie rathje

more is more!

let‘s show them that they‘re like this

situation problem objective approach results plea