Growing diversity has become a key feature of cities today. The changing patterns of global migration flows have created the movement of people from varied national, ethnic, linguistic, and religious backgrounds. At the same time, inequality between individuals, groups and territories has increased. How to ensure cohesion in culturally diverse societies has become more prevalent, and cities are uniquely placed to provide and test solutions.

The Intercultural Cities (ICC) programme has developed and validated an intercultural approach to integration and inclusion which enables cities to reap the benefits and minimise the risks related to human migration and cultural diversity. This module introduces some of the base concepts of this integration model.

2.1 Diversity

The term diversity is often used as an umbrella concept that refers to a range of human differences, including but not limited to ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical value systems, national origin, political beliefs. Increased urbanisation, combined with globalisation, technology, artificial intelligence, and transnationalism are some of the factors that shape today’s diversity. These changes have resulted in new diversities, new experiences of space and creolisation, but also new patterns of inequalities and segregation. They emphasise multiple aspects of identity, the multi-faceted roots of exclusion and segregation, and the need to design new policies and governance to address these challenges.

Next, please take the time to familiarise yourself with page 9 of the guide The intercultural city step by step. You can also save the document if you wish to return to it later.

Food for thought

  • How can you see the diversity in your city?
  • What is your city currently doing to ensure all diversity is included and reflected in your city's policies?

2.2 Why interculturalism?

Interculturalism differs from other traditional approaches to integration (for instance assimilationism and multiculturalism) in that it considers the positive potential of diversity as the starting point and the horizon of modern cities. While the assimilationism model overemphasises on equality neglecting diversity, and multiculturalism highlights cultural differences, the aim of interculturalism is to realise equality and societal cohesion by building on the diversity that enriches societies.

Next, please take the time to familiarise yourself with page 10 of the guide The intercultural city step by step. You can also save the document if you wish to return to it later.

Food for thought

  • What is the difference between interculturalism, multiculturalism and assimilationism?
  • Which are the three main principles of interculturalism?

2.3 The diversity advantage

The diversity advantage is both a concept and an approach. It premises that diversity can be a source of innovation bringing valuable benefits to communities, organisations and businesses, when managed with competence and in the spirit of inclusion. The diversity advantage is also the result of policies that unlock the potential of diversity while minimising the risks related to human mobility and cultural diversity.

Next, please take the time to familiarise yourself with page 11 of the guide The intercultural city step by step. You can also save the document if you wish to return to it later.

Food for thought

  • What does your city already do to ensure the benefits of the diversity advantage?
  • Which additional actions could your city take to make sure to maximise the diversity advantage for all the residents of the city?

2.4 Guiding principles for intercultural integration

The Intercultural Cities concept has several sources of legitimacy: research evidence, city practice, and international legal instruments and documents. It is a rights-based approach, which means that it aims at realising the principle of equal dignity for all human beings and the principle of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by all members of society, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and in many other Council of Europe and international standards.

The simultaneous application of three principles are driving this approach: real equality, the diversity advantage and meaningful intercultural interaction.

Next, please take the time to familiarise yourself with page 12 of the guide The intercultural city step by step. You can also save the document if you wish to return to it later.

Food for thought

  • In which ways can you see the three core intercultural principles reflected in the daily actions of your city?
  • Which steps could you take to enhance the three principles of real equality, diversity advantage and meaningful intercultural interaction in your city?
  • How does the principle of participation fit in with the three main principles?

2.5 Conditions to tap into the benefits of diversity

While research literature provides a large amount of evidence regarding the positive effects of diversity on economic performance and policies, it has also made it clear that diversity entails a continuous trade-off between costs and benefits. It is up to city leaders and administrators to create the appropriate conditions to amplify the social and economic benefits of heterogeneous communities. Institutions, values and governance mechanisms have an important role to play in relating diversity to socio-economic outcomes. Overall, it appears that, when backed by efficient institutions, diversity can serve as a valuable asset for society.

Next, please take the time to familiarise yourself with page 13 of the guide The intercultural city step by step. You can also save the document if you wish to return to it later.

Food for thought

  • Where has your city seen a benefit of diversity? Which were the conditions which helped these benefits grow? Can these conditions be replicated in other areas of the city?
  • Which structures does your city have in place for participation?

2.6 What does an intercultural city look like

Intercultural cities have a diverse population including people of different nationalities and origins, and with different languages or religions/beliefs. Most citizens regard diversity as a resource not a problem and accept that all cultures change as they encounter each other in the public arena. The city officials publicly advocate respect for diversity and a pluralistic city identity. The city actively combats prejudice and discrimination and ensures equal opportunities for all by adapting its governance structures, institutions and services to the needs of a diverse population, without compromising the principles of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. In partnership with business, civil society and public service professionals, the intercultural city develops a range of policies and actions to encourage more mixing and interaction between diverse groups. The high level of trust and social cohesion help to prevent conflicts and violence, increase policy effectiveness and make the city attractive for people and investors alike.

Next, please take the time to familiarise yourself with pages 14-15 of the guide The intercultural city step by step. You can also save the document if you wish to return to it later.

Food for thought

  • Which spaces for interaction exist in your city? How could they be developed or new spaces created?
  • How are residents of diverse origins involved in the decision-making in your city?
  • How is intercultural competence built in your city?
  • Which narratives are shared in your city? How could these narratives be developed?

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4. What does the term "diversity" often refer to?

  • (1)A range of human differences.
  • That we are not all born in the same place.
  • That we all have different cultures.

The term “diversity” is often used as an umbrella concept that refers to a range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical value systems, national origin, and political beliefs. Increased urbanisation, combined with globalisation, technology and artificial intelligence, as well as transnationalism are some of the factors that shape today’s diversity. These changes have resulted in new diversities, new experiences of space and creolization, but also new patterns of inequalities and segregation.

5. What is interculturalism?

  • A policy model that considers integration as the process where cultural differences should be absorbed into the host society culture and disappear in order to create homogeneous societies.
  • (1)A model which enables each identity to flourish but also underlines the right of all cultures to contribute to the cultural landscape of the society in which they are present.
  • A set of policies that enable different cultures to live side by side, none of which take precedent or have higher value.

Interculturalism is a policy model for ensuring equality and cohesion in culturally diverse societies. It encourages mixing and interaction among people of different origins, cultures, and backgrounds to build a collective identity that embraces cultural pluralism, human rights, democracy, gender equality and non-discrimination. It is based on the simultaneous application of the principles of equality of rights and opportunities, diversity as an advantage, and meaningful interaction as a way to mobilise the contributions of all residents for the development of their society.

6. What is the diversity advantage?

  • The understanding that diversity is beneficial in the workplace.
  • The understanding that diversity is always positive.
  • (1)The value diversity can bring when managed well and in the spirit of inclusion.

The diversity advantage is both a concept and an approach. It premises that diversity can be a source of innovation bringing valuable benefits to organisations, communities and businesses, when managed with competence and in the spirit of inclusion. The diversity advantage is also the result of policies that unlock the potential of diversity while minimising the risks related to human mobility and cultural diversity.

7. Which are the three core principles of the intercultural policy model?

  • (1)The diversity advantage, real equality and meaningful intercultural interaction.
  • Meaningful intercultural interaction, participation and equity.
  • Cooperation, diversity and interaction.

The intercultural integration policy model has several sources of legitimacy: research evidence, city practice, and international legal instruments and documents. It is a rights-based approach, which means that it aims at realising the principle of equal dignity for all human beings and the principle of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by all members of society, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. The simultaneous application of three principles drive the intercultural approach: equality, diversity advantage and meaningful intercultural interaction.

8. What is the role of integration and inclusion policies?

  • To take action to ensure all migrants learn the language of the host community.
  • (1)To intervene to break diversity fault lines which may emerge from individual choices or spatial segregation.
  • To ensure all residents are integrated in the host society.

The costs and benefits depend not only on the number and relative sizes of cultural groups living in the city but also their degree of integration and the institutional and political environment that encourages or undermines this integration and, ultimately, their inclusion. The role of integration and inclusion policies is to intervene so as to break (or avoid the formation of) diversity fault lines that might emerge endogenously from individual choices, or from spatial segregation. This requires action at different levels and in a multiplicity of domains - schools, workplaces and urban public spaces – to foster encounters and mixing across ethnic and other social boundaries.

9. Which are key factors in an intercultural city?

  • (1)Spaces for interaction, empowering all members of the community, fostering intercultural competence.
  • Working to promote diversity in the areas of formal competence, creating narratives highlighting the different groups in society, promoting language learning.
  • Recognizing all groups residing in the city, creating equal opportunities for work, promoting cultural festivals.

Intercultural cities have a diverse population including people of different nationalities and origins, and with different languages or religions/beliefs. Most citizens regard diversity as a resource and accept all cultures change as they encounter each other in the public arena. The city officials publicly advocate respect for diversity and a pluralistic city identity. The city actively combats prejudice and discrimination and ensures equal opportunities for all by adapting its governance structures, institutions and services to the needs of a diverse population, without compromising the principles of human rights, democracy and rule of law. In partnership with businesses, civil society and public service professionals, the city develops policies and actions to encourage mixing and interaction between diverse groups. The trust and social cohesion help to prevent conflicts and violence, increase policy effectiveness and make the city attractive for people and investors alike.

Knowledge test results

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