How to Manage Intercultural Conflict Effectively

Conflict is inherent to any kind of human interaction. The word derives from the Latin words "com" and "fligere," which mean to strike together. Conflict manifestation in a multicultural environment is a given when an array of diverse forces comes into play. The trick lies in how well you manage the cultural clash.

Managing the Managers

Before approaching the conflict, the people in charge of managing it should ask themselves how acquainted they really are with their multicultural environment and if they hold any stereotypes that may act as a form of discrimination. Anti-bias training offered by an organization such as the Anti-Defamation League or Teaching for Change provides such answers. The training instructs the managers how to handle conflict effectively in a diverse group.

Accentuate Similarities

A conflict in a multicultural setting brings to mind differences. But the key to conflict resolution is to connect people through their similarities, Hellen Hemphill and Ray Haines say in their book "Discrimination, Harassment, and the Failure of Diversity Training: What to Do Now." Differences break apart communications, sending various incongruent messages instead of a universal one.

Subcultures

Constant migrations throughout the globe create what UNESCO calls subcultures within dominant cultures. The way to manage conflict in this scenario, say Larry Samovar and Richard Porter in their book "Intercultural Communication," is to be open to new information that will unveil more than one perspective on a single matter. This process works only if the conflicting parties get rid of stereotypical labels.

References

• Alberta Health Services: Diversity Education and Resources
• "Intercultural Communication"; Larry Samovar and Richard Porter; 1997
• UNESCO: Public Policy and Ethnic Conflict
• Anti-Defamation League: Anti-Bias Education and Diversity Training
• "Discrimination, Harassment, and the Failure of Diversity Training: What to Do Now"; Hellen Hemphill & Ray Haines; 1997

Resources

• Teaching For Change: Building Social Justice Starting In the Classroom