Language & Intercultural Communication
Editor: Dr John Corbett (University of Glasgow)
Associate Editor: Robert Crawshaw (Lancaster University)
Reviews and Criticism Editor: Dr Fiona J. Doloughan (University of Surrey)
Editorial Board: Gavin Jack (University of Stirling)
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Volume: 7 Number: 4 Page: 254–266
doi:10.2167/laic285.0
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Intercultural Competence: The Status and Future of a Controversial Concept
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Stefanie Rathje
University of Jena, Germany
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The paper reviews the current state of research into the long-disputed concept of intercultural competence by evaluating its varying definitions in German debates. The superficial clarity of the concept is unmasked to reveal fundamental differences in the answers given to questions like: what is the goal of intercultural competence; is intercultural competence universal or culture-specific; in which situations is intercultural competence needed; and what understanding of culture forms the basis of intercultural competence? The requirements for an applicable understanding of intercultural competence are derived, leading to a set of suggestions for the development of the concept on the basis of a contemporary, cohesion-oriented definition of culture.
Keywords: intercultural competence, culture, intercultural management, cultural cohesion, cultural coherence
© 2007 S. Rathje
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