Universal hospitality

Newcomers are a wide range of people coming from all over the world. Some of them choose to leave their homelands seeking a better future, while others are forced to leave because of wars, natural disasters, political and economic problems and religious persecution. So, how are newcomers hosted in different cultures around the world?

Many economic, political and ethnic conditions force many people to leave their countries and go to others searching for a better life, more freedom or security and stability. These people, with their own special culture, become newcomers to the hosting countries that have also their own culture. Therefore, the conflict between the two different cultures rises intensely. Moreover, excluding and marginalizing the culture of newcomers and fighting it brings about conflict and disturbance to the society and shakes its stability and security.

Most countries consider “illegal immigrants” as aliens who threaten their security and economic development. Illegal immigrants usually don't find jobs. Thus, they often do illegal things to earn a living like stealing or working as drug dealers. As a result, the countries do everything they can to get them out of their territory.

The solution to this issue can be summarized in one expression: “the cultural politics” in the host county. So, does it mean good management and governance, or the opposite? Is that hosting country good at managing the cultural differences? The notion of “ culture integration ” as a positive way of communication between different cultures can make them enrich each other, knowing that cultural diversity is a source of strength and cohesion of the nations, and not otherwise. Some countries are aware of this issue and they try to figure out solutions. The “green card” lottery, launched by the USA is one of the effective solutions to contribute to the “melting pot” nation which secures the integration of miscellaneous and different cultures.

The cultural coexistence can be achieved if the host culture is an open one. Otherwise, it is going to reject the culture of the newcomers and this will lead to deep conflicts and disturbance.

Receiving newcomers in different cultures depends on what kind the host culture is, whether it is open or not; a culture of interaction and peace or that of conflict and war.

                                                                   Written by : Nadia Chakir