This book explores a particular genre of intervention into cultural difference, used across the globe. Organised cultural encounters is an umbrella concept referring to face-to-face encounters that are organised across a wide variety of social arenas in order to manage and/or transform problems perceived to stem from cultural difference.

The authors base their focus on empirical contexts either located in Denmark or related to a Danish organisation, investigating interfaith work, training sessions in diversity management, volunteer tourism, a youth diversity project called the Cultural Encounters Ambassadors, and a community dance project. Through different theoretical approaches, and careful analyses of the micro-level practices occurring within the time-space of specific encounters, Galal and Hvenegård-Lassen demonstrate how both the interactions and their outcomes are considerably more complex and contradictory than evaluative and instrumental accounts of success or failure may capture. This book will provide a valuable resource for practitioners and scholars of intercultural relations working in the fields of cultural geography, anthropology, cultural studies, and migration studies.

Provides an in-depth analysis of what happens during the specific time and space of organised cultural encounters Connects lessons from different practice fields, which can be applied by practitioners of organised cultural encounters Marks an important contribution to the emerging field of the geography of encounter Brings together important areas of cross-cultural practices and culture-management practices such as diversity management and interfaith work

Autorentext

Lise Paulsen Galal is Associate Professor of Cultural Encounters at Roskilde University, Denmark.

Kirsten Hvenegård-Lassen is Associate Professor of Cultural Encounters at Roskilde University, Denmark.

Inhalt

1. Introduction: Organised Cultural Encounters. - 2. Tracing the Ideas of Organised Cultural Encounters. - 3. Guided Interactions: Scripting at Work. - 4. Orchestrated Turnarounds: Between Class and Order. - 5. Walking, Dancing, and Listening: Affect and Encounters. - 6. A Risky Business.