Necessary Conversations: A View on Multiculturalism in the Danish Society
Necessary Conversations: A View on Multiculturalism in the Danish Society

Summary/Abstract: This paper defines the concept of a necessary conversation as an instrument for discussing the intercultural dialogue which the relatively newly arrived immigrants to Denmark are engaged in with the Danish society. Such a necessary conversation is conceived of as a culture learning experience to be facilitated by the (Danish) language schools. The perspective adopted is, on the one hand, that of the language and culture learner, and on the other, of the less experienced Danish teacher, both categories understood as possessing a lower degree of intercultural competence compared to the fully integrated immigrant or the fully competent teacher. Within this context, a total of four necessary conversations are identified in the govermental document The Government's Vision and Strategies for Better Integration (2003), which, subsequently, are analysed on the basis of Parekhs’ (2000) notion of an operative public value.

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