This book considers the many and often controversial debates about the theoretical underpinning, ideological positioning and political significance of intercultural learning in and for the European youth field. Its starting point is the current de-politicisation of intercultural learning in the field, which sees it as a central approach.

Contributors challenge the elevation of intercultural dialogue to panacea for all societal problems from civil war to educational failure, the problematic position of notions of culture at the heart of intercultural learning practice and much of the accepted wisdom on the purposes, contents, approaches and methods of intercultural learning and on the competences required of those delivering it. In an attempt to breathe new life into what is criticised as a stagnant debate, this book asks all those concerned with political education and intercultural learning to rethink where they stand in relation to the theoretical foundations and basic principles of an educational practice that seems to be in need of radical re-politicisation if it is to live up to the contemporary challenges putting its mobilisational capacity to the test.

Vorwort
Intercultural Learning and Political Education in Contemporary Europe

Autorentext

Yael Ohana is a specialist in non-formal education and international youth work. She is the co-founder of and principal project officer at Frankly Speaking Training, Development & Research, a small educational consultancy, based in Bratislava, Slovakia & Berlin, Germany.

Dr. Hendrik Otten is a specialist of political education. He is the director of the Institute for Research in Applied Communication (IKAB) in Bonn, Germany.

Zusammenfassung
This publication takes up the many and often controversial debates about the nature, content, methods and political significance of intercultural learning in and for the European youth field. Its starting point is the current depoliticisation of intercultural learning in this field, and especially in the programmes of the European Commission and the Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe over the last several years. At the same time, the elevation of intercultural dialogue to panacea for all societal problems, from civil war to educational failure, is putting the mobilisational value of intercultural learning to the test.

Inhalt
Retrospectives. - Perspectives.