Developing intercultural competence in Europe: the challenges

Abstract

Anti-racism has not played a prominent role in recent major European Union Lifelong Learning strategies. Nevertheless, its importance in Europe with increasing levels of migration has kept the concept, in the form of intercultural competence and intercultural dialogue, alive within European Education and Culture policy. This article traces the use of the terminology of culture within European policy and practice, in particular focusing on intercultural learning in European Youth work. It explores the effectiveness of the use of culture in addressing discrimination at an individual and structural level, using empirical examples. The article concludes that practice that focuses almost entirely on interpersonal skills at the individual level has limited influence in creating structural change. The article ends with proposals for anti-discrimination policy and practice.