1.2 Introduction

Through the case studies we gained an initial glimpse into the complexity of culture. An important point here was to show that when we refer to cultural affiliation, we take it to mean not only nation states, but our membership of a whole range of collectives such as age, gender, role, profession, region, education etc. (Hansen, 2000). Each of us is a member of many different cultures, some of which influence us greatly and some to a lesser extent. Which ones are particularly prominent and relevant also depends on the context of the interaction. We are all therefore a ‘part’ member of many cultures. These cultures and thus collectives are not only numerous and lack sharp boundaries, but are also dynamic, and shaped by the constantly changing relationships and interactions between people.

If this is so, then how can we capture culture with its many facets and complexity? And what does this mean for our understanding when meeting people from different cultures? These are questions we will explore in this session. Let us start by examining the concept of culture itself.