Center for Intercultural Dialogue Key Concepts in Intercultural Dialogue

Cultural Identity Vivian Hsueh-Hua Chen Assistant Professor, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

What is it? are defined by recognizing others' presence and cultural practices. Intercultural dialogue is essential Cultural identity refers to identification with, or sense to constructing cultural identity as it encourages of belonging to, a particular group based on various individuals to see similarities with and differences cultural categories, including nationality, ethnicity, from others and define who they are. Intercultural race, gender, and religion. Cultural identity is dialogue produces a contested space where cultural constructed and maintained through the process of identity is constantly redefined and negotiated. sharing collective knowledge such as traditions, heritage, language, aesthetics, norms and customs. What work remains? As individuals typically affiliate with more than one The concept of cultural identity has mainly been cultural group, cultural identity is complex and studied in multicultural societies and societies with multifaceted. While formerly scholars assumed histories of modern Western colonialism. The US identification with cultural groups to be obvious and and the UK have been at the center of the stable, today most view it as contextual and production of relevant theories and empirical dependent upon temporal and spatial changes. In studies, influenced by civil rights movements in the the globalized world with increasing intercultural 1960s and identity politics in the 1980s. As a result, encounters, cultural identity is constantly enacted, existing studies of cultural identity do not reflect the negotiated, maintained, and challenged through social and cultural contexts in other parts of the communicative practices. world. Asia is one of the regions that has fallen Who uses the concept? outside the purview because of the relatively homogenous population in many Asian countries. The concept of cultural identity is used by scholars Enhancing and sharing vernacular knowledge in a wide range of humanities and social sciences rooted in non-Western cultures will lead to further disciplines, including especially communication and refinement of the concept. cultural studies, but also psychology, history, linguistics, and regional studies, among others. Resources Scholars in communication and cultural studies Fong, M., & Chuang, R. (Eds.) (2004). examine communicative means and practices as Communicating ethnic and cultural identity. both the results and constitutive elements of cultural Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. identity. Outside academia, the concept of cultural Kim, Y. Y. (2007). Ideology, identity, and identity is most often used by non-governmental intercultural communication: An analysis of organizations in multicultural societies as a way to differing conceptions of cultural identity. Journal recognize and celebrate identities of racially and of Intercultural Communication Research, 36(3), ethnically marginalized groups. 237-253. Fit with intercultural dialogue? Miike, Y. (2007). Theorizing culture and communication in the Asian context: An One's cultural identity is created in relation to others assumptive foundation. Intercultural within a unique social context. All cultural identities Communication Studies, 11(1), 1-21.

Key Concepts in Intercultural Dialogue, No. 22, 2014 http://centerforinterculturaldialogue.org