CULTURES IN HIERARCHY AND CULTURES ALONGSIDE Asante (2003b)claims that difference alone does not create a problem, and that itis the assigning of hierarchical value to difference that creates aproblem. His idea of “multiculturalism without hierarchy” thuspinpoints how cultures should relate to one another in the contextof diversity. He implies that, if multiculturalism is defined asthe co-existence of many cultures, there are two ways of culturalco-existence: (1) cultures in hierarchy and (2) cultures along-side. Cultures in hierarchy is the form of cultural co- existencein which we see one culture above others so that we learn a frameof reference from one culture and view others through the singlecultural standpoint. Cultures alongside is the form of culturalco-existence in which we see all cultures equal so that we learndifferent outlooks from different cultures and view all culturesthrough their respective cultural lenses. Asante (1993) refers tothe second form of cultural co-existence as pluralism withouthierarchy and hegemony. He believes that, when we bring togetherlocal knowledges from all cultures, we will have a truly globalknowledge about people in the world and move toward a trulytranscultural understanding of humanity, diversity, andcommunication. In this section, using Satoshi Ishii’s (1997)conceptualization of culture, I will envision the ideal of culturelearning that enhances “multiculturalism without hierarchy.” Mypremise here is that, in order to appreciate any culture, we mustunderstand the worldview of the culture and its impact on the formsand functions of communication.
What is meant by “cultures in hierarchy”? Is this considered anegative or positive perspective? Why? Is there a better way ofviewing cultures?
