21-07-2006 

The journal Africa e Mediterraneo (www.africaemediterraneo.it) is going to publish a special issue devoted to the analysis of intercultural projects and methodologies in Europe.

The starting point for this issue is the research Interculture map, ran by Lai-momo and Africa e Mediterraneo, together with three other European partners: CBAI (Belgium), Grupo Agora - Universidad de Huelva (Spain), Multicultural Centre Prague (Czech Republic).

The research analyses the complexity of the concept of Interculture itself, which has become a general term, used to define a vast range of initiatives, all differing in their motivations, intentions and results. There is now an established rhetoric of interculture, which is used in many projects that define themselves as “intercultural”, but too often use the terminology automatically and uncritically. Nonetheless, there are several projects that in fact increase understanding and communication between different cultures, and improve exchanges between local communities, even if they are not labelled “intercultural” and are not traditionally involved in dealing with immigration and integration issues.
Given the complex nature of this concept, Interculture map intends to outline some guidelines to approach European intercultural landscape, analysing actions, actors and contexts where the intercultural experience can take place.
 
The journal will follow the structure of the research, which analyses four broad thematic maps in order to facilitate the creation of a European interculture map: media, arts, education, quality of life. Further to the publication of the research’s results, the dossier aims to give researchers and scholars the opportunity to propose papers. The following issues should be considered:

- Interculture in the Arts field (visual arts, theatre, music…) - Is it possible to make a distinction between an actor who runs intercultural projects in the artistic field and an actor running artistic projects in the intercultural area? Which is the role of artistic quality, in an action centred on “Interculture”? How does founding influence the artistic performance? How is it possible to obtain the participation (also of immigrated groups) to intercultural artistic events? Can art contribute to the deconstruction of prejudices?

- The role of the media and publishing in the communication between cultures - How can we define a really intercultural media? Which kind of media can work better for the intercultural communication? Who is the target of the so-called intercultural media (and who do they really reach)? Which place on the market can be occupied by editorial policies paying attention to the South of the word?

- Intercultural education - How is difference considered in the education field, the first one to face the different issues related to the intercultural dialogue? Is it possible to build alliances between formal and informal education, between schools and associations? Which role can undertake the educators’ training?

- Intercultural dialogue in everyday life - Which is the role of culture in the social integration initiatives in Europe? Which long run strategies can support the cohabitation among different cultures? How can operators overcome the idea of emergency linked to the immigration phenomenon and to the intercultural society?

Language: For this special issue, Africa e Mediterraneo will publish articles in Italian, English, Spanish and French.

Deadline for the presentation of proposals: 10 September 2005
Deadline for the submission of articles: 30 September 2006

For information, contact:
Sandra Federici redazione@africaemediterraneo.it
Sara Saleri s.saleri@africaemediterraneo.it
Tel.: 0039 - 051-840166