Abstract

This article explores the policy responses and conceptual underpinnings of intercultural education in Greece. In the past two decades, and as a result of migration, Greece has seen its demography significantly and irreversibly altered in social, cultural, economic, ethnic, racial, and religious terms. Faced with an increasingly diverse student population, novel education policies are required. This article addresses the following questions: How has intercultural education been designed in Greece in response to growing immigration? What are the main objectives of Greek educational policy as regards contemporary Greek society overall and the immigrant population in particular? Are these changing, and if so in what direction? Is intercultural education perceived differently on the part of the various stakeholders? Based on our empirical research we highlight the connection between education policy approaches, practices and national identity discourses in order to explore the conceptual confusion of intercultural vs multicultural education approaches and the importance of the national context. We also raise a number of issues that we consider merit further examination both in policy and research terms in order to expand and enrich intercultural education in Greece

In a recent article entitled

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13613324.2010.543394

“Greek education policy and the challenge of migration: an ‘intercultural’ view of assimilation”

Abstract

This article explores the policy responses and conceptual underpinnings of intercultural education in Greece. In the past two decades, and as a result of migration, Greece has seen its demography significantly and irreversibly altered in social, cultural, economic, ethnic, racial, and religious terms. Faced with an increasingly diverse student population, novel education policies are required. This article addresses the following questions: How has intercultural education been designed inGreecein response to growing immigration? What are the main objectives of Greek educational policy as regards contemporary Greek society overall and the immigrant population in particular? Are these changing, and if so in what direction? Is intercultural education perceived differently on the part of the various stakeholders? Based on our empirical research we highlight the connection between education policy approaches, practices and national identity discourses in order to explore the conceptual confusion of intercultural vs multicultural education approaches and the importance of the national context. We also raise a number of issues that we consider merit further examination both in policy and research terms in order to expand and enrich intercultural education in Greece.

The heightened security awareness in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and the London and Madrid bombings has resulted in a ‘crisis of multiculturalism’. Now is the time to look at the renewed challenges that multiculturalism faces toda. Each chapter in this interdisciplinary book reviews the actual state of affairs in several countries in relation to the theories behind immigrant minority claims. With a special focus on Muslim immigrants, the contributors look at the value issues entrenched in multiculturalism and the policy challenges and measures adopted to address them.

Key Features

• Focuses on 7 European countries – Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece and Spain
• Gives an overview of different approaches to multiculturalism
• Looks at issues of citizenship, diversity, civic recognition, gender, religious diversity & education, integration, anti-discrimination policies and social policy

The book has 5 core objectives:

• to chart the legal, political and educational challenges posed by migration-related religious, ethnic and cultural diversity in European countries
• to reflect theoretically on those challenges and the value systems involved *to assess the policy solutions adopted in different countries
• to compare between different policies/ models and the ways they are implemented
• to discuss whether all solutions are bound in their national contexts or whether they are relevant across Europe

“Us and Them – Us as Them” is a cycle of discussions organized by Onassis Cultural Centre and concerns the issue of immigration. The cycle’s wide-ranging discussions were inaugurated with the first event “The Greek economy: Myths and facts” on 12the of October 2011, speakers: Antigone Lyberaki and Rubini Gropa. Find here more information about the forthcoming events from the cycle “Us and Them – Us as Them”.

In Greece, Phase I is in the final stages of completion. A total of 19 interviews were conducted with irregular migrants who crossed the sea border between 2009 and 2011. Additional interviews took place with representatives of the Police and Coastguard authorities in the islands of Lesvos and Samos as well as Athens, but also with organizations such as UNHCR. The data collected were consolidated in a final report (currently only for internal distribution) for the treatment of third country nationals in the maritime borders of Greece for the period 2009-2011. Although the research will not be made available yet, two points are worth noting:

1. The dramatic change in the incoming flow from the maritime border in the period 2010-2011. The downward trend is in stark contrast to the picture of 2009 and compared with data available for arrivals through the land Greek-Turkish border.
2. No maltreatment was documented against third country nationalsfrom official authorities in the islands for the period 2010-2011.