Moving Cultures: Intercultural Dialogue and Passage through Tibet?

Abstract: As a developing ‘great world power ’ (Benson, 2002, p. 3) and especially since its accession into the WTO in 2001, China has been increasingly opening itself to and engaging with the rest of the world. On the one hand, China has to cope with the influence of foreign cultures, especially Europe and the U.S., while preserving its own traditions. On the other hand, China has to seek harmony within its own diversified internal cultures for better coexistence and integration of the ethnic cultures within China. With 56 ethnicities, China today faces challenges incurred by the growing recognition and significance of cultural diversity within it. This paper provides an introduction to these issues, focusing on a research trip into Tibet as a case study to illustrate cultural differences and recognition and understanding of intercultural encounters. It provides an analysis of the interviews conducted in the train trips to and from Tibet as abasis to discuss some of the implications for the ongoing intercultural dialogue in the world and particularly in China