Transkulturalitätsforschung

Transkulturalität is a concept in cultural studies and sociology that describes processes in which cultural boundaries are permeable and identities emerge through ongoing interaction across cultures. It emphasizes flows of people, ideas, goods, and media, and the ways individuals and groups adopt, adapt, or blend elements from multiple cultural sources rather than living in isolated, parallel cultures.

The term gained prominence in German-speaking scholarship in the late 20th century, notably through the work of scholars such as Wolfgang Welsch, who used it to critique static models of culture and to capture the hybrid, dynamic character of contemporary societies shaped by globalization. Since then, the concept has been developed across disciplines—including anthropology, education, and media studies—to reflect transnational networks, diasporic experiences, and digital communication.

Key ideas include that identities are pluriform and negotiated in interaction with others, and that cultural artifacts are reinterpreted within new contexts. Transkulturalität foregrounds intercultural competence, creative hybridity, and ethical engagement with difference, while also recognizing power relations and asymmetries embedded in global exchanges.

Critics warn that the concept can verge on relativism or overlook structural inequalities if not carefully applied. In practice, transkultural approaches inform educational curricula aimed at inclusive learning, migration and integration research that moves beyond assimilation models, and analyses of hybrid forms in arts, music, cuisine, and media, illustrating how cultures continually influence one another in a connected world.