Archives
You can consult previous issues of Intercultures from the archives section below.
Featured in this edition are:
- Working for Peace in the Middle East
Daniel Lubetzky is a serial social entrepreneur known for integrating social objectives with sustainable market-driven forces into new business models. In 2009, BusinessWeek Magazine named Daniel among "America's Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs" and TIME Magazine named him among "25 Responsibility Pioneers" of social innovation. - A Libyan in London
Hisham Matar was born in New York City to Libyan parents, spent his childhood first in Tripoli and then in Cairo. His first novel, In the Country of Men, follows the plight of Suleiman, a nine-year-old boy living in Tripoli, whose father is forced to flee the family household by Gaddafi's secret police. - Are You Culturally Intelligent?
David Livermore is a thought leader in cultural intelligence (CQ) and global leadership and the author of Leading with Cultural Intelligence, which was named a best-seller in business by The Washington Post. - Volunteering in Mali
Éric Bertrand went to the heart of Mali to work as a volunteer on an environmental project. When he came back, he wrote about this encounter with the other and with himself.
Featured in this edition are:
- Pakistan's Tribal Regions: The Most Dangerous Place in the World?
Journalist Imtiaz Gul has covered militant groups in tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan since 1988. His most recent book, The Most Dangerous Place, is a gripping and explosive exposé of a region that is at the forefront of the war on global terrorism. - Making News in Pakistan
Sana Khan is a Canadian journalist working for Internews in Pakistan. Based in Islamabad, she is currently helping train local journalists on humanitarian crisis reporting. - Yallah Underground: A Peak at the Emerging Art Scene in the Middle East
Young artists are challenging the differences between modern global youth culture and their traditional Arab culture. German-born filmmaker Farid Eslam intends to give them a platform to display their work in his upcoming documentary, Yallah Underground. - Culture Matters in Agile Software Development
Robert Biddle is Professor of Human-Computer Interaction in the School of Computer Science at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Professor Biddle's research on collaborative software development, or Agile Software Development, has led him to develop games that help developers meet the challenges of working in culturally diverse teams.
Featured in this edition are:
- Mental Illness and Culture
The West's approach to diagnosing and treating mental illness is sweeping the globe but this spread may be doing more harm than good. In his extensive research around the globe, Ethan Watters, author of Crazy Like Us, depicts several alarming cases of Western mental health beliefs gone awry in non-Western nations. According to Watters, "We are flattening the landscape of the human psyche." - Honour at All Costs in Afghanistan
In her latest film, Act of Dishonour, Nelofer Pazira paints a moving and nuanced portrait of life in a rural Afghan village. Set in the Northern region of Afghanistan, this feature drama tells the story of a young bride-to-be who strays from local customs after befriending an Afghan-Canadian translator. - Intercultural Connections
Lucas Welch is the Founder & Chief Innovation Officer of Soliya, a non-profit organization committed to using new technologies to facilitate dialogue between students from diverse backgrounds around the world. - It's a Swede Life
Michel Benoit is a Canadian computer engineer who has been living and working in Stockholm, Sweden for the past 12 years. Every year in the month of May he hits the road with his musician friend Stiko Per Larsson and his dog Yrrol for a musical walking tour.
Featured in this edition are:
- Helping in Haiti
Véronique Doutreloux is a nurse clinician working in Canada's Far North. Five days after the earthquake in Haiti, this native of Chibougamau found herself in Port-au-Prince on her first mission as a Red Cross volunteer. - Doing Business in China the Streetsmart Way
John Chan was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. His cultural and business background are a blend of East and West; urban and rural. According to John, being effective in China doesn't have to be as complicated as one would think. - Rolf Potts: More than Just a Vagabond
A globetrotting post-modern travel writer, Rolf Potts has been dubbed the "Jack Kerouac for the Internet Age". - Witnessing Beatrice: Life of an Internally Displaced Person in Northern Uganda
Lara Rosenoff documented Beatrice's story over a two-year period. During this process, she also came to understand her role as a Witness.
Featured in this edition are:
- To Live and Work in Kabul
Dallas Newby is currently working as an advisor to the Minister of Finance of Afghanistan, Dr. Omar Zakhilwal. He has been living and working in Kabul for the past 11 months. Dallas admits that he NEVER anticipated finding himself in his current role. - Thiagi: The Mad Scientist of Performance Improvement
Dr. Sivasailam "Thiagi" Thiagarajan is internationally recognized as an expert in learning games for personal and company development. Thiagi is also the inventor of "Barnga", the simulation game of choice for intercultural communication. - Are You a Geoleader?
Dr Wibbeke's book, Global Business Leadership, shows that the greatest challenge leaders face is how to successfully work through cultural barriers to become the best in the business. - International Development, Intercultural Effectiveness and Project Team Performance
Diana Simkhovych recently published the results of her research examining the relationship between intercultural effectiveness and project team performance in the international development field.
Featured in this edition are:
- Doctor, Writer, Volunteer, Humanist: A conversation on Six Months in Sudan with James Maskalyk
James Maskalyk set out for the contested border town of Abyei, Sudan, in 2007 as 'Médecins Sans Frontières' (Doctors Without Borders/MSF) newest medical doctor in the field. He has since written a book about his experience. Six Months in Sudan began as a blog that he wrote from his hut in Abyei. - "The Team" Plays on Common Ground
THE TEAM, a new television series, premiered in Kenya on May 21st, and will be seen nationally on Citizen-TV each Thursday. The series was co-produced by Media Focus on Africa Foundation and Search for Common Ground, in response to the devastating post-election violence. - Curiosity About the Unknown Transforms a Life
Almost 35 years ago, Renée Giroux was finishing college and preparing to begin university to study architecture. But the need to live an adventure and to throw herself into an unknown environment completely transformed her life story. - First Steps in Mali
At the age of 39, after completing the Centre de Formation en Coopération Interculturelle (CFCI) volunteer program, Éric Bertrand left his wife and children to attend an 18-week internship in Mali where he discovered the unbelievable cultural wealth of this country in western Africa. - Two years in Tanzania
Mary Katherine Keown spent nearly two years in Tanzania working as a volunteer. As a journalist, Mary Katherine never met a word limit she couldn't break. But several months after her return to Canada, she is often at a loss for words when it comes to telling her own story.
Featured in this edition are:
- Emmanuel Jal: Fighting a Different Kind of War
Emmanuel Jal was born in Southern Sudan and at the tender age of 7, was recruited as a child soldier. His amazing story of survival, rescue and rebirth as an influential hip hop artist is the stuff of nightmares and fairy tales. - A Little Magic for Kabul
Over four years and across three continents, filmmaker Philippe Baylaucq accompanied Haruhiro Shiratori, a Japanese Don Quixote, documenting his quest to build a cultural centre for the children of Kabul. - From Theory to Application: Living the Intercultural Experience
Doug MacDonald, former Director of the Centre for Intercultural Learning, is now the Country Representative for the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) International Operations program in Aceh province, Indonesia. - Police Reform in Mexico: A Canadian Touch
Last year, thousands of people were killed in drug-related violence in Mexico. Mexican officials acknowledge that the country's police forces need to be reformed. Former Vancouver B.C. cop Walter McKay is one of the people assisting with that reform.
Featured in this edition are:
- Lost Language, Lost Culture
There are nearly seven thousand languages in the world. Scientific estimates say that half of these are endangered and many could vanish in the coming decades. - Managing the Multicultural Team
According to Jeanne Brett, managers set their teams up to fail because managers themselves fail to help the team anticipate cultural differences and fail to set norms for dealing with cultural differences. - Canadian Content in Sudan
Heba Aly reports on a very Canadian presence – the "United Microcosm" – in Sudan. - Culturally Appropriate Web Design
Dr. Irina Kondratova and her team have scanned over 30,000 top Websites from 36 countries in an attempt to address the need for culturally appropriate user interface design.
Featured in this edition are:
- The Street Kids of Port-au-Prince
Christopher Kovats-Bernat has spent 10 years conducting fieldwork on the lives of street kids in Port-au-Prince. His book, Sleeping Rough in Port-au-Prince, depicts a complex social, cultural, and economic identity that characterizes the lives of these children. - From Waves to Whirlwinds: An Interview with Fons Trompenaars
Fons Trompenaars is one of the world's foremost authorities on cross-cultural management and is author or co-author of several best-selling books in the field, including Riding the Waves of Culture, and his most recent book, Riding the Whirlwind. - Cultural Contestation in Ethnic Conflict
Marc Howard Ross is a Political Scientist and Professor at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania. Professor Ross teaches courses in conflict theory, conflict management, and the politics of ethnicity and race. We recently talked to him about his latest book, Cultural Contestation in Ethnic Conflict. - Intercultural Cities
Phil Wood has recently managed a project called: "The Intercultural City: Making the Most of Diversity." The Intercultural City project explores the innovative, creative and entrepreneurial forces driven by cultural diversity, and their impact on the development of cities. The project also looks at how combining cultural skills leads to innovative thinking and explores which societal factors encourage this process.
Featured in this edition are:
- Justice for All: An Interview with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi
Lawyer, human rights activist, teacher and author, Shirin Ebadi was awarded the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize for her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women's and children's rights. She is the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive the prize. - Shining the Light
For the past 12 years, Paola Gianturco has worked as a photojournalist, documenting women's lives in 40 countries. - Gender and Police Reform in Afghanistan
Tonita Murray, former director of the Canadian Police College, has spent that last three years in Afghanistan working as a gender and policing advisor within the Afghan Ministry of the Interior. - The Women of Kibera
Up to one million people live in Kibera, a sprawling slum in the heart of Nairobi. Hamza Ahmed, founder of the Interfaith Women for Peace and Development women's group, believes that women are in a great positionto bridge the longstanding tribalism in Kibera and in Kenya in general. - Empowering Women, One Voice at a Time
Mavic Cabrera-Balleza coordinates the International Women's Tribune Centre's human security, human rights and peace building programme. Mavic is also the president of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) - Women's International Network.
Featured in this edition are:
- Culture and Cognition
Richard Nisbett contends that Asians and Westerners "have maintained very different systems of thought for thousands of years," and that these differences are scientifically measurable. - Culture Under the Big Top
When you think of Cirque du Soleil, you imagine world-class artists, incredible scenery and stirring music. Once a small band of acrobats and artists, the Cirque has evolved into a multinational organization. - Vues d'Afrique: Voices of Change
In 1985, a friendly group of journalists and filmmakers reacted to a short but provocative assertion: "African cinema does not exist." In short order, Vues d'Afrique was launched. The annual film festival is an opportunity for a weeklong exploration of films from the African diaspora. - Internet Design and Culture: Unravelling the Tangled Web
Global Internet usage has grown by a staggering 225% since the beginning of the 21st century and has widened its reach to countries across the globe. Along with this expansion comes the challenges of addressing audiences across a broad cultural range.
Featured in this edition are:
- Making News in Rwanda
What began as a symposium has evolved into the Rwanda Initiative, a program to help train a new generation of journalists in Rwanda. Allan Thompson is the founder of the Rwanda Initiative. - Leading the Research on Global Leadership
Dr. Mansour Javidan, President and Chair of GLOBE, has been a key member of the research team from the very beginning of the most extensive research initiative ever undertaken examining the relationship between culture and leadership. - Global Radio
Barbara-Judith Caron, one of four young journalists who took part in Radiomonde, a program on Radio-Canada's Première Chaîne that enabled her to travel around South and Central America. This young, passionate journalist has a lot to say about her experience. - On the Road Again
Heather Johnston is a Learning Advisor at the Centre for Intercultural Learning. She will soon be leaving her duties—and her boys—to head off with her spouse on their fifth international assignment. - A Rwandan Point of View on Training Initiative
Eugene Kwibuka is a 22-year-old journalism student at the National University of Rwanda. He was recently in Canada on an internship sponsored by the Rwanda Initiative, Canwest and the Montreal Gazette.
Featured in this edition are:
- Riding the Chinese Roller Coaster
It's been a year since Anthony Germain, a 20-year veteran CBC reporter, left the quiet comfort of Ottawa and headed off to Shanghai with his family in tow. - Intercultural Leadership
Ann Gordon has been living, teaching and researching leadership for over 20 years. Her recent work looks at leadership skills across cultures. - Development Research and Intercultural Effectiveness
Portia Taylor gathers researchers from IDRC to reflect upon the intercultural dimensions of development research. - Hope: one grain of sand at a time
Journalist and Africa enthusiast Marie Devers and her husband have returned from a emotionally moving stay in Burkina Faso.
Featured in this edition are:
- Sarah Chayes: Not Your Average Activist
This former National Public Radio (NPR) reporter left her job to help rebuild war-torn Afghanistan. She speaks Pashto, occasionally dresses like an Afghan male, and has lived in Kandahar City since the fall of the Taliban. - An Interculturalist in Cairo
Suzie Greiss, cultural anthropologist-turned-Egyptian parliamentarian, has tirelessly worked to strengthen cultural understanding and partnerships in Canada-Egypt development assistance projects. - Walking the Beat in Sudan
William Chan, a 10-year veteran with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, decided one day to apply for an international assignment. He really didn't expect to be selected on the first try. - A Snapshot of New Beginnings in Canada
As Canada approaches its 150th anniversary, Statistics Canada reports that by 2017, 1 in 5 Canadians will belong to a racially visible group. Mara Munro met with 3 women who spoke to her about their experiences immigrating to Canada.
Featured in this edition are:
- Soldier, Senator, Humanitarian
A conversation with Romeo Dallaire on Rwandan culture, peacekeeping and Canadian values. - Gannon on Afghanistan
AP correspondent Kathy Gannon has spent 18 years reporting on Afghanistan. Her recent book, I is for Infidel, chronicles events in the country from the Soviet pullout to the rise and fall of the Taliban. In this interview, she discusses the complexities of Afghan culture and the hard work ahead if we are to make allies of them. - Culture Does Not Exist
Strange words to come from the mouth of the father of comparative intercultural research? Perhaps, but Geert Hofstede is not your run-of-the-mill Dutch academic. - Sensationalism Veils: The Portrayal of Muslim Women in Western News Media
Mara Munro looks at media coverage of Muslim women five years after 9/11. - Higher Learning in Ghana
Krissy Darch reflects on a recent 8-month CIDA youth internship in Ghana that proved to be a moving experience in more ways than one.
Featured in this edition are:
- A Passion for Peace
Carolyn McAskie, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, has worked her entire life to promote justice, human rights and gender equality. - Who Says You Can't Move Mountains?
Canadian Mark Rowswell, also known as Dashan (Big Mountain), is a cultural icon to a billion Chinese people but he can walk down the streets of Toronto without turning a single head. - The Heart of an African
Scott Griffin, businessman, publisher, author and Chairman of the Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry, has a keen ability to recognize opportunities and seize them. In 1996 he did just that and left his comfortable life in Toronto to fly his small plane solo to Kenya and work for the Flying Doctors Service. - The Continent of Oral Tradition: Rural Radio in Africa
Jean-Pierre Lamonde, an expert in communication for development, has helped set up rural radio stations in Africa for the last thirty years. - Training for Educational Institutions
The Centre helps staff of Canadian universities better serve their international students.
Featured in this edition are:
- From Alberta to the Arabian Peninsula
A Canadian psychologist tells of her work in Yemen and the United Arab Emirates. - The World According to Gwynne: The Outlook is not so Dire
The sometimes controversial and always outspoken Gwynne Dyer talks about war, peace and culture. - Young Canadian Ambassadors
A look back at V Games of La Francophonie in Niger. - Distant Neighbours Come Together
Randy Weekes reflects on a recent trip to Kenya. - Supporting Democracy in Haiti
A diverse group of Canadians head off as election observers.
Featured in this edition are:
- Out of Africa: Getting the Story Right
Stephanie Nolen, Globe and Mail bureau chief in Johannesburg, talks about the challenges of reporting from Africa. - Doing Business in India: Beware the Similarities
Rajesh Kumar dedicates much of his time helping foreign businesses understand the "complex, imaginative Indian". - Coming Home
Sherry Greaves tells of her work on a difficult posting and coming back to Canada. - Making Good on a Promise: Dr. Raza Khan
Much more than just a doctor. - Maté or Terere
Raymond Séguin, video and multimedia producer, writes about a recent trip to Paraguay.
Featured in this edition are:
- The Culture of International Business
An interview with the Honourable Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME). - Accidental Journey
Former Ambassador Michel de Salaberry's career in the Middle East may have begun accidentally, but his continued commitment to the region is quite deliberate. - Dr. Culture: An interview with Daniel J. Kealey
Dr. Daniel J. Kealey, a leading specialist in the field of intercultural effectiveness, has taken a long and winding road to get to where he is today. - Dispatches from Japan
Thomas Vulpe, Director of the Centre for Intercultural Learning, writes to us while on duty in Aichi Japan.
Featured in this edition are:
- A Man with a Vision
Named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most important thinkers of the 21st century, Tariq Ramadan occupies a unique place among leading Islamic thinkers. - Culture and Conflict
Michelle LeBaron is a world-renown expert in the field of conflict resolution. - Beyond the Tsunami
Insights into death and mourning practices in four affected countries. - From Québec to Cap-Haïtien
An update from Isabel Vachon, a Canadian Cop in Haiti.
Featured in this edition are:
- A Canadian in Kabul
Christopher Alexander, Canada's first ambassador to Afghanistan, has been in the job for just over a year. Intercultures caught up with him to talk about some of the challenges of living and working in a culturally-diverse country in transition. - Which Way Do You Look First?
A short take on the prevalence of intercultural issues by Thomas Vulpe, Director, Centre for Intercultural Learning. - Journalist or Griot?
Moussa Tchangari, activist and journalist, talks about his work in Niger. - Blackfoot Decision Making at Heritage Canada
Peter Homulos discusses new management practices learned while collaborating with Aboriginal peoples of Canada.