Intercultural studies

Intercultural Studies is an interdisciplinary field of inquiry dealing with the significance of cultural differences for social relations in contemporary society. From a variety of theoretical and methodological viewpoints, researchers explore ethnic, religious and linguistic heterogeneity, migration processes, relations between minority and majority constellations in different societies, and changing social identities. Common to their approach is an interest in the promises and possibilities of human diversity, and in cultural difference as a human resource. In a globalised world, there is an increasing demand for these types of perspectives in fields such as school and education, social work, healthcare, police and judiciary, business, tourism, diplomacy, and social media.   

Countries including Finland, England, and the US offer postgraduate education in intercultural studies. Karlstad University is the only higher education institution in Sweden with intercultural studies as a main field of study, and there are plans in the making to launch second-cycle education. Students can now study the history of ideas and the theoretical traditions of the field, and topics such as identity politics, racism, urban planning, intercultural business relations, intercultural communication, and the role played by cultural identity in processes of conflict and reconciliation. Research at the department is leading in the area of racism and anti-racism in Sweden, and we are organising an international research network on the theme of visual culture and interculturality.