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Foreword
The Intercultural: "the other" and "the we inclusive"

[versión en español]

Arturo Quispe Lázaro

When we talk about interculturality, whom are we talking about? Do we include ourselves in the dialogue or do we usually try to discover exotic or unknown "others"? Are we in a different category or are we the "others"? That is to say, when we talk about "we", are we talking about a "we inclusive" or do we look to differentiate ourselves from an "other," someone separate from us whom we understand, defend, and support because he/she is different? Is this a kind of cultural paternalism and a renewed form of ethnocentrism?

Interculturality, like democracy, implies certain social relations and a representation of ourselves and the others that criticizes the social hierarchy, that prevent not only more horizontal and enriching relationships, but also prevents us from knowing ourselves better.

It is easy to point out that we are the result of a system and an authoritarian and discriminatory tradition that significantly moulds the manner in which we see the world and our opportunities. The challenge is to critique all of these influences, recognizing that we are also active actors constructing or deconstructing images and discriminatory, antidemocratic or exclusionary relationships. In this way, talking about interculturality is not only talking about social systems, power relations and world views but also talking about ourselves. That is to say, the goal is to connect the individual, interpersonal and social dimensions of interculturality as a social construction and relationship.

In this third edition of Construyendo Nuestra Interculturalidad (Constructing our Interculturality) we continue exchanging ideas about the concept of interculturality. We also discuss the challenges implied in its incorporation into different dimensions of the social life and our interpersonal relations. Our "special" section about the concept of interculturality that started in the previous edition has found itself enriched with interviews with Juan Ansion, a well-known social scientist and researcher of issues related to interculturality, and Alfredo Rodríguez, an academic and advisor for much of his career at the Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (AIDESEP). At the same time, we have included several articles from the fields of social sciences, philosophy, and linguistics that contribute to the debate about interculturality. With different approaches and emphases, our interviewees and writers call our attention to fundamental questions to understand interculturality, some of which are: Is interculturality a value? Is it an attitude? Is it a way of thinking? Is it a kind of social relation closely connected to the systems of social organization? To what extent is it more than a utopia or an ideal, than a factual situation? Are all the encounters among different cultures manifestations of interculturality? Why has the intercultural experience been more present among subordinate cultures and social groups than among the hegemonic ones?

In addition, we present in this edition valuable contributions that examine culture, social relations and politics in different areas. Among the several topics discussed by the articles included in this issue are the following: the identity of Americans and the representation of Hispanic immigrants in the United States; the role of social networks and economic changes in the migration of Peruvians to New York; the sociocultural transformations that occurred in Lima as a result of internal migration, including the changes in urbanization, music (The Chicha and Andean folklore) and religion; the experiences of Andean women who migrate to the capital of Peru as housekeepers; the national identity and military culture; health programs and interculturality; the concept of life in the debate over Terry Schiavo; and the depictions of gender justice in literature. The "specials" in this edition include: an analysis of the worship of Sarita Colonia, a popular Peruvian saint not recognized by the official church; the exhibition of paintings by Jorge Miyagui, a young artist who links art and politics at a time when politics is refused by a lot of youths; as well as two photographic exhibitions on Mexican people in New York.

I would like to finish by saying that the number of people who collaborate in the production of this website has significantly increased. Thanks to their participation this third edition of Construyendo Nuestra Interculturalidad has been possible. We have an editorial committee that is working in diverse locales. We welcome Juan Tokeshi and Carmen Yon, whose different knowledge and expertise have contributed in preparing this website for you. I would also like to thank Aldo Valencia for making legible all the articles in cyberspace language, as well as for his patience and creativity in the design of this third edition. At the same time for designing the first edition of our website.

I would not want to finish without thanking all the people in more than fifty countries who visit us. When we started this website we never imagined that we could reach out to so many people! I hope that you enjoy the third edition of this website. We look forward to your opinions and comments.

Arturo Quispe Lázaro
Sociologist
arturo@interculturalidad.org