DIFFERENCE – POWER – CONTEXT. MEDIATION IN “INTERCULTURAL ” CONFLICTS.

Handling differences in an asymmetric world. „Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy. Cultural differences are a nuisance at best and often a disaster.” (Geert Hofstede) There are various attitudes and theories about what “intercultural conflicts “ really are and how to deal with them in a practical way. The decicive question should be to find out exactly which kind of difference is seen as the main source of conflict. The way we, the mediators perceive conflicts, the way we talk about them and analyse them determines the way we deal with situations- how we behave towards the different parties and which kind of intervention we chose. In this essay I would like to express my thesis that it is not “the culture “ or the “cultural difference “ which should be the main focus of the work of mediators in intercultural contexts but the power asymmetries connected with them. Intercultural relationships are generally no relationships at the same level. As a consequence the conflicts arising from these are not just about the relationship between “the culturally different”, but between the dominant and the dominated, majorities and minorities, the established and the outsiders.Thus the way people talk about it represents the real challenge for mediators. I would like to connect my thoughts with practical conclusions for our work as mediators as we practise it in our mediation institute “inmedio”1. I find it more rewarding to shift the focus from the question: “What are cultures / ethnic goups- and how do they work? ” to the question: “When, how and with what intention do people culturise/focus on ethnic differences?