Intercultural communication: a new approach to international relations and global challenges (sadri, h.a. and flammia, m.) [book review]

Abstract

The authors of this book have brought together their expertise in international relations and technical communication, respectively, and produced a fresh and topical treatment of intercultural communication from an interdisciplinary perspective. The book aims to enhance the reader's basic stance as a culturally aware person and his/her ability to act mindfully in intercultural encounters. The book is divided into four parts: an introduction of the central concepts and key theories of intercultural communication; an explanation of the four different approaches to the study of intercultural and international communication: the social science approach, the interpretative approach, the critical approach, and the dialectical approach; a discussion of the various processes and technologies related to intercultural and international communication; and finally, a discussion of the ethical dimensions related to culture. The book is highly rich in detail, and the work is an invaluable source of information for the reader who is looking for a holistic picture of intercultural and international communication on a global level. On the other hand, its wide scope does not permit a more in-depth treatment of many issues, such as linguistics or translation. There is a fair degree of repetition in the book, which makes skimming and browsing through the book easy, but which might cause some frustration for the chronological reader. However, for classroom purposes, the book is ideal as it offers numerous theoretical viewpoints.