Definitions of Intercultural

Intercultural means that there is an interaction between two or more cultures.

Multicultural means that something pertains to or is represented by many different
cultures. The difference is interaction versus representation.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_intercultural_and_multi
cultural
What is the difference between the terms multicultural and
intercultural?
Both multiculturalism and interculturalism are frequently confused with one
another, and yet there is a big difference between them. A multicultural society is
one where people from different cultures, nationalities, ethnic and religious groups
live in the same area, but are not necessarily in contact with one another. What we
see in multicultural societies is that the mutual differences are often the basis for
discrimination, where minorities may be tolerated, but are seldom fully accepted or
valued. Even the law isnt applied equally to everyone, despite the fact that legal
rights exist to counteract these practices. The concept of an intercultural society is
the next step in human evolution that will eventually lead to universalism.
Interculturalism occurs in a society where people from different cultures,
nationalities, ethnic and religious groups live in the same area and keep an open
and impartial relationship with one another. Within an intercultural society, people
recognize each others way of life and accept these differences with respect and
appreciation, and live together in order to actively encourage a healthy balance of
interest, tolerance and selfachievement. This is a process that makes it possible
for all members of the society to be treated equally and fairly.
http://legendofanomad.com/2012/09/13/multicultural-vs-intercultural/
MULTICULTURAL? CROSS-CULTURAL? INTERCULTURAL?
JANUARY 3, 2013 BY LAURA TERASAKI
http://lauraterasaki.com/multicultural-cross-cultural-intercultural/
A few weeks ago, I was having lunch with a new friend and I was explaining to
them a vision for a multicultural ministry. They affirmed me in many ways but told
me that they preferred the term intercultural and explained why. Previous to that
conversation, I had been using the terms multicultural, cross-cultural, and
intercultural interchangeably. Now that I understand their nuances, I think it is
valuable to pass this information along.
A Multicultural Organization
consists of a group of people who celebrate each others cultural backgrounds
and traditions but does not address deeper level interactions and relationships.
A Cross-Cultural Organization...
reflects a multicultural group that moves beyond surface level relationships by
sharing and learning from each others cultural heritage.
An Intercultural Organization

builds deep relationships while honoring, sharing, understanding, and respecting

each others unique cultural backgrounds. In addition, power-sharing is embraced
and methods of peace-making and reconciliation are employed. Hard work is put in
by all involved to create an atmosphere of equality.
In my research I have come across several other excellent resources on this topic
including:
http://www.united-church.ca/files/intercultural/multicultural-crossculturalintercultural.pdf
http://www.uab.edu/Communicationstudies/humancommunication/11.1.3.pdf
http://www.icctp.net/resources.php

Interculturalism vs Multiculturalism
Within a country, a distinction can be drawn between interculturalism and
multiculturalism. Indeed, multiculturalism is the ideology that postulates that all
cultures and civilizations are of equal value and should be treated and promoted
equally within the same nation. It is often confused with political pluralism, and
with ethnic and linguistic diversity, or with interculturalism.
Interculturalism is a political ideology that does not place a priority for all cultures
to be on the same level as a basis to organize a given society. Its main objective is
rather to develop a common civic culture based on the values of freedom and
liberty, and of human rights, as derived from the Western civilization, while
encouraging interaction between the communities living in the same country. As
such, Interculturalism requries democracy and full respect for universal human
rights (whereas multiculturalism explicitly doesn't know this requirement).
Interculturalism promotes individual rights for everyone, with no discrimination.
This means, in particular, that people have the right to maintain an affiliation with
one's ethnic group and the right for cultural and religious differences to be
displayed in the public domain. However, the entire society must adhere to the
same constitution of fundamental rights and obligations, with no exception. It does
not accept that cultural differences are used as an excuse to reduce the rights of
certain groups. This approach leads to an ethics of maximum tolerance for an
individual's choices and of minimum tolerance for totalitarian and theocratic
systems of ideas that could undermine the very foundations of a democratic
society.
http://all4crossculture.blogspot.com/2010/08/interculturalism-vsmulticulturalism.html