Complexity and educating communities: Notes seen from an intercultural-education perspective

Abstract

This paper aims to present some theoretical issues currently emerging in the field of intercultural research, with special reference to the role of “educating communities” within socioculturally complex areas. The paper starts by focusing on the relevance of a non reductive approach towards the diversity emerging in today’s educational contexts. It will then proceed to describe some aspects of socioculturally complex territories, also taking into consideration the Invalsi results of the last few years in different schools. To conclude, the paper will suggest that it is important to adopt a postcolonial approach, or rather to focus not only on the weaknesses, but also on the strengths of complex environments. In this perspective, educating communities can play a key role in building on the resources of complex environments.

Keywords

• Complexity
• Diversity
• Intercultural education
• Socioculturally complex territories
• Educating communities