Intercultural Justice
This semester we have looked at Intercultural Communication using a critical intercultural communication perspective. A critical intercultural communication perspective gives us a space to confront and intervene in key power challenges in the intercultural world and to make our world a better and more just one for all cultural groups. The notion of using our intercultural knowledge and applying it to transform our world in terms of dismantling power inequalities beyond the classroom is praxis. As critical intercultural scholars, we should strive to engage in praxis to positively impact the intercultural world we are in. Therefore, the goal of this paper/project is to employ the ACT Framework as a way to engage in praxis and positively impact the intercultural world we are in. Assignment Objectives: In this assignment, you will be able to: Practice employing the ACT Framework for Intercultural Justice to a specific case study. Deeply examine an important intercultural issue problem or scenario through a critical intercultural communication perspective. Apply course concepts from all modules in this course and all of Halualanis chapters to this project. Design responsive solutions and or ideas to create positive intercultural change. Reflect on YOUR role in creating intercultural change in the world. INTRODUCTION: Select your intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma. Identify a specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma related to disproportionate power relations and/or structures of powerone that you are passionate about examining and designing solutions for change. Introduce the specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma related to disproportionate power relations and or structures of power that you are focused on. Discuss why you chose this specific issue and what it means to you. Examples of specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma related to disproportionate power relations and or structures of power, can be (but are not limited to) as follows: Negative intercultural relationships between two specific groups; Intercultural conflict among specific racial/ethnic, religious, and or cultural groups; Subordination of women in a specific cultural group; Gender experiences within a cultural group; GLBTQIA experiences within a cultural group; Immigrant groups in a community/country; Lack of representation of a specific group in an industry or profession (will need to address the issue of historical access); Lack of representation of a specific group in the media (will need to address the issue of historical access); Marginalization of specific identity backgrounds (disabilities, sexual orientation, gender, race/ethnicity, among others) in education, media, politics, or community life; Subordination of generational status within a cultural group; Limited exposure to particular cultural groups and identities in education, organization life; Framing of specific cultural groups or identity background in popular culture; Dismantling colonialist or dominant frameworks in the educational, media, legal, tourism, governmental, and popular culture contexts; Unequal intercultural relations as brought on by globalization (uneven flow of meanings, money, goods, and people); Climate issues that affect cultural groups as brought on by global and economic forces; Legal framings of cultural groups and or intercultural issues (domestic violence, hate crimes, genocide, sexual consent, freedoms and rights, embodied rights, the right to marry); Cultural representational issues and dilemmas for a specific cultural group; Topics that relate to and are captured in any of the Halualani chapters or in our course modules; And many, many more Il. ACT Analysis A. Awareness and Agency: This step addresses the capability to act and make a difference against a structure of power or practice of domination. Agency speaks to the need to continually increase our awareness of the ways in which power shapes culture, our identities, and experiences. In this section you will do the following: Discuss and explain the importance of this specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma related to disproportionate power relations and or structures of power. Why is this topic of yours so important to focus on in this project? Explain ALL the main details (what, who, when, where, how, why, all key detailS that are needed) of the specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma related to disproportionate power relations and or structures of power that you are focusing on for this project. Identify a minimum of 4 course concepts from our modules or the Halualani textbook youll be using to critically look at your issue. B. Contemplate, Consider, and Critique: This step seeks to consider, question and critique invisible dimensions of contexts of power BEFORE one acts. In this section, please provide a deep unpacking of your specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma in terms of the following: What are the key issues, problematics, and points of tension related to power and culture? Which power interests and positionalities are involved in your specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma? Detail these. What constitutes the problem, conflict, or dilemma? Elaborate on this and flesh it out. What are the key obstacles in addressing your specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma? What leverage points exist at all in addressing your specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma Be sure you apply the four (4) course concepts you identified in section A into your analysis. C. Critique: This step is an extension of the B step to critically evaluate your specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma. In this section, please consider the following questions in your critique: What is your take/opinion/stance on your specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma? How do you view your specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma? How do you see and understand it? What are the most difficult areas of your specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma to confront and address? How are you positioned in relation to your specific intercultural community issue/problem/conflict/dilemma? D. Thoughtful Individual and/or Collective Action: (you can address INDIVIDUAL or COLLECTIVE ACTION) In this step you will spend some time reflecting on the best course of action we can take INDIVIDUALLY and/or COLLECTIVELY to address and be agents of change to structures of power or dominant power interest. In this section, please provide some PRACTICAL INDIVIDUAL AND/OR COLLECTIVE ACTION STEPS that can be practically taken. You can provide your ideas OR identify and present what YOU are INDIVIDUALLY or COLLECTIVELY doing to positively impact the intercultural world you are living in. In your reflection please be to: Consider specific INDIVIDUAL and/or COLLECTIVE acts Discuss how it will affect others and how it will resist a dominant power. Examples of INDIVIDUAL ACTION Participating in interactions with culturally different persons and reflecting on the role of power Initiating conversations and discussions with people from different social locations Seeking out knowledge and perspectives on status quo or dominant ideas Posing new questions about cultural groups and structures of power; questions that have never crossed your mind Examples of COLLECTIVE ACTION Creating your own group or community to address or challenge a status quo structure or practice of power Convening a critical mass of individuals to work together on a specific cause or need in society Having your student club or organization take up a racial or global justice cause Joining a grassroots group that works on behalf of disenfranchised people III. CONCLUSION: In your conclusion please describe what you learned about yourself, others, and the role of power in intercultural communication as a result of taking this class AND through writing this paper.. PAPER GUIDELINES: Min 1800-2000 words, typed, double-spaced, one-inch margins and 10-12 point font. Please organize your paper by using the standard paper formatting structure (introduction, body, conclusion). Please include 3 additional outside resources. Please use standard MLA/APA format when citing your sources.
