The Double-Swing Model

Basic questions:

How to deal with the globalised world in terms of the interpersonal, international and intercultural relations? How to respect cultural uniqueness in terms of differences and similarities?

According to Yoshikawa, the Double-Swing model presents a way to close these gaps and supports a constructive intercultural communication between individuals and cultures. With both communicating parties understanding communication as an infinite process, they change during the intercourse and reach a higher position of tolerance and knowledge.

Modes of intercultural encounter

There are different ways of encounter and communication.

Ethnocentric

based upon Selectiveness

Control

based on Manipulation

Dialectical

which can be described as a fusion-orientated encounter

Dialogical

that leds eventually in interdependent communication

East & West perspectives

Yoshikawa's theory of the Double-Swing model and seeing persons as being complete in relationships, is based upon the Buddhist philosophy of "soku" and Austrian Jewish philosopher Martin Buber's "I-Thou Relationship".

The Buddhist philosophy "soku"

Basic idea: Nothing in the world exists independent of a web of conditioning factors.

To deal with that idea, there are two ways: one in "Clinging" to that fact of conditioning matters and accepting that there is either one or two. Another way is the "Middle Way" by recognizing, that there are two matters, although one cannot say whether it is one or two. "Soku" stands for "not one, not two" and is based upon the Japanese 即非("Soku-hi), which is a term of the Kyoto School of Eastern philosophy.

The main belief with soku represents a balanced logic

Implications

Difference & otherness as positive factors -> essential for growth in communication process Communicator is always active -> never a passive reactor to communication, but an active creator of own stimuli Dynamic interplay with whole persons ->focus polar posits - not polar experiences Self & Other Awareness ->Process in which one's essential identity takes place

Critics

What to take care for if “cultures” meet? (concrete examples, best-practices) What if own acceptance of „anew-creation“ is not given? What about Buber‘s „narrow-ridge“ (face-to-face requirement)? Representative for western thinking? What about the Eastern dominance in that model?