This article is written by Fabian Piga, Policy Advisor, UK Cabinet Office.

  • The problem: While most policymaking processes recognise the relevance and importance of cultural diversity, they may fall short of adopting intercultural awareness during the stages of a policy’s development.
  • Why it matters: An absence of intercultural awareness in policymaking can negatively affect a policy’s receptiveness by certain cultural demographics, which may lead to unintended outcomes contrary to the policy’s objective. This fallout could impair the effectiveness of the policy’s publicity and implementation.
  • The solution: A policymaking process which incorporates intercultural awareness throughout and a growth mindset which embraces learning opportunities to enhance intercultural awareness.

The notion of intercultural awareness goes beyond the fundamental understanding of our own cultures and other world cultures to additionally encompass an appreciation of the similarities and the differences between them, including on linguistic, behavioural and historical levels. Being aware of such cultural diversity has become paramount in almost all organisations, including those with policymaking responsibilities. While this issue merits recognition and promotion across the staff body, we should not underestimate its importance in our workstreams, particularly when driving forward policy-related deliverables.

I have worked internationally for over a decade — in private sector companies, diplomatic missions and third sector organisations, both in the UK and overseas. Intercultural awareness has played a critical role in all my professional endeavours. Among its many benefits, it has helped me to:

  • Perform more effectively in multicultural teams and with diverse stakeholders.
  • Interpret distinct cultural norms with greater authenticity and strive to understand them.
  • Value a variety of approaches to key areas, such as communication and teamwork.
  • Build stronger partnerships by appreciating different practices, perspectives and cultures.

Indeed, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office recognises its value and facilitates training dedicated to intercultural awareness to colleagues assuming international-facing roles, covering its meaning, purpose and best practices. Having managed various policy portfolios in several government departments, I have realised that policymaking should view intercultural awareness with a similar degree of importance as transnational engagement, not only because many of our societies have become more culturally diverse but also because many of the issues which our policies aim to address have become more cross-cutting.

Why does intercultural awareness matter in policymaking?

We have strived to shape our societies on a macro level through values which aim to support good governance, co-existence and societal progress. In the case of the UK, they include tolerance, mutual respect and rule of law. Such overarching values undoubtedly underpin the development of public policies. Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind the diversity of the communities within the population we aim to serve as policy professionals, especially in multicultural societies. This awareness on a micro level can demonstrate the relative nature of the values which we regularly assume to be universal, as well as the varying approaches taken to champion them. Furthermore, many communities have adopted and supported additional values, which they similarly hold to a high regard, such as collectivism or spirituality. By examining the value systems within a population, we can assess existing perceptions of widespread beliefs, consider our assumptions on values within different communities and contextualise these cultural influences.

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In other words, cultural factors and influences reflect each community’s uniqueness and deserve consideration during policy development. In this way, we recognise communities as a collective of actors possessing their own agency, as members of society co-existing within a multi-faceted nation-state and as stakeholders relevant to the policymaking process. On a more detailed level, remaining vigilant to and developing an awareness of evolving cultural contexts may shed light on the interplay between various determinants which policymakers already study, such as access to healthcare, religious beliefs and living conditions. It may be the case that a prominent cultural background affects a community’s integration within the local population, e.g. due to linguistic barriers, which in turn impacts their awareness of and their access to public services, like healthcare. Policymakers could refer to this knowledge as the policy develops, leading to, on the one hand, resilience and empowerment for a community and, on the other hand, the policy’s relevance and effectiveness thanks to a more comprehensive assessment of the demographic landscape.

Remaining inquisitive and striving to understand society’s cultural segments is extremely important in policymaking.

On a similar note, our experiences relating to a policy issue are generally influenced by the cultural contexts which we navigate, which not only inform the perceptions and actions of policymakers but also the communities which policies affect. Besides understanding the values we attribute to others, it is vital that we critically study our own cultures, including common practices and approaches to decisionmaking and the ways in which they may impact different cultural groups. As I continue to cultivate the practice of intercultural awareness in policymaking, including my own socio-cultural background, I notice that my tendencies and expertise are strongly influenced by the cultures I find meaning in. This stance raises questions about the ways in which we develop policies, including how we collect data, what we regard as appropriate evidence and the analytical tools we choose to apply.

As a result, the socio-cultural backgrounds of our societies’ communities should influence the content, processes, stakeholders and contexts of policymaking. For example, the development of an immunisation programme will, most likely, focus on relevant biological evidence and medical facts to endorse the treatment. Nevertheless, it should equally take into account diverse cultural contexts to build upon not only the scientific advice but also the universal values of care and well-being in order to offer alternative or revised pathways to ultimately encourage greater uptake from all demographics. If our aim is to design, deliver and evaluate purposeful and impactful policy, we need to understand the wider context of the policy area at hand through an intercultural lens, including the experiences within, history of and comparisons between different socio-cultural backgrounds. This shift in focus can help us understand more accurately people’s motives, build trust with the communities we serve and respond more effectively to local and global issues.

How could we incorporate intercultural awareness into policymaking?

While policymaking generally aims to define an appropriate response to a particular issue, the approach taken can vary depending on the organisational practices and the policy’s objective, e.g. promoting a behavioural change, introducing a public service, or revising a regulation. In any case, overlooking intercultural awareness could result in a culturally biassed policymaking process, which may affect the policy’s efficacy or contextual suitability. Rather, identifying methods to develop the stages of policymaking or revising existing ones in a way which recognises the relevance of intercultural awareness could not only foster a considerate, all-rounded approach for more effective policymaking but also help stimulate impactful practices and symbiotic partnerships for future policy development.

I have identified three suggestions to consider which have benefitted my development as a policy advisor:

  1. Firstly, reflect on your current practices in policymaking and reinforce the contextualisation of your methodology. We could learn from alternative policymaking models or discuss potential efficiencies in this regard with colleagues and stakeholders.
  2. Secondly, conduct research which covers intercultural aspects, especially through first-hand interventions, e.g. fieldwork and consultations. We should address the policy issue with a concern for cultural sensitivities, real-life voices and societal complexity.
  3. Thirdly, beyond policymaking, try to explore prevalent cultures and communities, including languages, code systems and customs. We can thus understand and contextualise perspectives, influences and qualities with greater breadth and depth.

Overall, remaining inquisitive and striving to understand society’s cultural segments is extremely important in policymaking, shifting our focus from solely implementing a particular policy to encouraging a renewed cooperation based on mutual understanding, respect and trust between state and society. Naturally, this mindset develops with practice and greater exposure, noting that cultures and societies, in reality, are complex and dynamic. In essence, a worthy consideration I regularly endorse is that our outlook is often not the only one — nor necessarily the right one.

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