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The WCCES and Intercultural Dialogue: Historical Perspectives and Continuing Challenges

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Abstract

The World Council of Comparative Education Societies (WCCES) has been strongly concerned with intercultural dialogue since the Council was created in 1970. Indeed advancement of education “for international understanding in the interests of peace, intercultural cooperation, mutual respect among peoples and observance of human rights” is one of the goals built into the WCCES Statutes. This paper begins with a focus on the origins and goals of the WCCES, noting in particular links with the mission of UNESCO. The paper then considers dimensions of evolution in the work of the WCCES in the domain of intercultural dialogue. It underlines the growth of the WCCES and the continuing challenges for securing balanced representation of voices and perspectives.

Résumé

LE CMAEC ET LE DIALOGUE INTERCULTUREL: PERSPECTIVES HISTORIQUES ET DÉFIS CONTINUELS – le Conseil Mondial des Associations d’Éducation ComparÉe (CMAEC/WCCES) s’est fortement intÉressÉ au dialogue interculturel depuis la crÉation du Conseil en 1970. En effet le dÉveloppement de l’Éducation « pour l’entente internationale dans l’intÉrêt de la paix, de la coopÉration interculturelle, du respect mutuel entre les peuples et du respect des droits de l’homme » est l’un des objectifs Établis par les Statuts du CMAEC. Cet article s’ouvre sur une focalisation sur les origines et les objectifs du CMAEC, notant en particulier les liens avec la mission de l’UNESCO. L’article prend ensuite en considÉration les dimensions de l’Évolution du travail du CMAEC dans le domaine du dialogue interculturel. Il souligne la croissance du CMAEC et les dÉfis continuels pour assurer une reprÉsentation ÉquilibrÉe des voix et des perspectives.

Zusammenfassung

DER WCCES UND DER INTERNATIONALE DIALOG: HISTORISCHE PERSPEKTIVEN UND AKTUELLE HERAUSFORDERUNGEN – Seit seiner Gründung im Jahr 1970 hat sich der World Council of Comparative Education Societies (WCCES) intensiv mit dem interkulturellen Dialog befasst. Tatsächlich ist die Bildungsförderung “für internationale Verständigung im Interesse des Friedens, der interkulturellen Zusammenarbeit, des gegenseitigen Respekts zwischen den Völkern und die Einhaltung der Menschenrechte” eine der Zielvorgaben der WCCES-Statuten. Der vorliegende Beitrag konzentriert sich zunächst auf Ursprünge und Ziele des WCCES, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Verbindungslinien zum Auftrag der UNESCO. Sodann werden überlegungen über Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten der Arbeit des WCCES im Bereich des interkulturellen Dialogs angestellt. Besonders hervorgehoben werden das Wachstum des WCCES und die aktuellen Schwierigkeiten bei der Sicherstellung einer ausgewogenen Repräsentanz einzelner Stimmen und Perspektiven.

Resumen

EL CMSEC Y EL DIÁLOGO INTERCULTURAL: PERSPECTIVAS HISTÓRICAS Y RETOS PERMANENTES – El Consejo Mundial de Sociedades de EducaciÓn Comparada (CMSEC) se ha ocupado intensamente del diÁlogo cultural desde la creaciÓn del Consejo en 1970. Efectivamente, uno de los objetivos que reflejan los estatutos es “promover, a través de la educaciÓn, la comprensiÓn internacional, en favor de la paz, la cooperaciÓn intercultural, el respeto mutuo entre pueblos y naciones y el respeto de los derechos humanos.” Este trabajo comienza haciendo foco en los orígenes y objetivos de la CMSEC y realza su fuerte vínculo con la misiÓn de la UNESCO. AdemÁs, el papel considera las dimensiones de evoluciÓn en el trabajo de la CMSEC en el Área del diÁlogo intercultural. Subraya el crecimiento del CMSEC y los retos constantes que debe encarar para asegurar una representaciÓn equilibrada de voces y perspectivas.

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Acknowledgments

The author sincerely thanks Vandra Masemann and Maria Manzon for their very helpful comments on drafts of this paper.

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Correspondence to Mark Bray.

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Bray, M. The WCCES and Intercultural Dialogue: Historical Perspectives and Continuing Challenges. Int Rev Educ 54, 299–317 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-007-9076-6

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