Intercultural studies

Located in the interface between the social sciences and the humanities, Intercultural Studies is an interdisciplinary research group at the Department of Communication and Arts (DCA), Roskilde University, We study cultural encounters and cultural complexity by exploring differences and the question of power both locally, globally, and in terms of time and space. Our research approaches draw on perspectives, theories, methodological considerations and analytical practices that encompass a wide spectrum of sources, disciplines, and theoretical paradigms. In particular, we explore processes of differentiation, othering and hierarchicalisation based on markers of difference (and their intersections) such as ethnicity, ‘race’, gender, language, religion, class, and nature/culture.

The studies include four prioritized areas of research:

1. Gender, power and diversity. Within this strand of research, the focus is on intersections of identity markers such as gender, ethnicity, ‘race’, religion, and how processes of categorization and identification interact within unequal power relations.
2. Migration, urban diversity and cultural encounters. We focus on encounters, diversity, and differentiation as a result of migration paying special attention to the ideas of the ‘nation’, and dynamics within the transformation of urban spaces.
3. Postcolonial studies across global relations. Our focus is not only on Global North-South, but also on South-South and South-North relations. Our programme further looks at contemporary cultural, literary, filmic, media and text production inter/nationally.
4. The language-culture relation and language encounters. This strand of research rethinks the linguistic and cultural aspects of the theoretical field by adopting a transnational and global perspective. We explore multilingualism and cultural heterogeneity connected to different social identities, categories, representations and contexts.