This book explores the conceptual and practical implications of applying a relational view to cultural complexity. The authors take the findings of an international and interdisciplinary Delphi study on transcultural competence as a starting point and offer further analysis and interpretation from their specific perspectives. Written by experts from a variety of disciplines, the book discusses the potential contributions of a relational approach to understanding and strengthening individuals and organizations in their contexts. Through various conceptual chapters, case studies and field reports, it explores the role and nature of commonalities for cooperation in contexts of cultural complexity and discusses the relationship between differences and commonalities, as well as the implications for relational leadership and management. The book is divided into four parts, the first of which introduces readers to the relational view. In turn, the second part elaborates on transcultural competence, while the third presents various case studies and field reports on experience-based learning and relationality in culturally complex settings. Finally, the fourth part sheds new light on relational leadership and the role of commonalities in organizational practice. As such, this book will appeal to scholars and practitioners in the areas of cultural and relational economics, intercultural communication, business strategy and leadership, and organizational studies.

Cultural Awareness in Teaching Art and Design addresses an emerging area of development in contemporary pedagogy, the fostering of cultural awareness and sensitivity in the designers of tomorrow. By offering new and unique examples of how to better educate students around issues of cultural awareness, this book presents teaching methodologies that ultimately facilitate students in becoming better, and more inclusive, art and design professionals. Today, the role of education in the addressing of social and cultural issues is increasingly seen as central to pedagogical methodologies. Through engaged teaching, experiential learning, socially orientated pedagogy or any other definition, the idea that students can and should be exposed to, and deal with, issues of importance to various stakeholders is increasingly seen as central to the teaching and learning experience – whether it be in relation to local communities, national economies, regional cultural identities or more. This is explored in a series of innovative, cross-disciplinary case studies in art and design teaching, with authors approaching questions of cultural awareness and engagement through the lenses of art history, product design, communication design, film, architecture and interior design. In presenting their pedagogical methodologies and case studies, the authors in this text offer a unique cross-disciplinary design perspective that captures the cultural and social concerns of several regions of the world: Europe, North America, Asia and Africa and the Middle East. This book will be essential reading for art and design educators and students interested in developing and applying models of cultural awareness and engagement in the classroom and studio.

This book introduces the research agenda of relational economics as a political economy for the governance of local and global economic transactions in modern societies. It analyses the mechanisms of global value creation and production networks by studying cooperation in intra- and inter-firm networks, intersectoral stakeholder management, and transcultural leadership. The author develops a categorical taxonomy for private and public value creation based on the effective and efficient interlinking of, and interaction between, a range of resources and abilities. In contrast to mainstream economics, which largely focuses on the laws of discrete and dyadic exchange transactions, this book assesses the polyvalent characteristics of relational transactions. The chief categories involved in an economic theory of the relations between events are the relational transactions and their various forms of governance; the polycontextual cooperation between economic, political and civil society agents; and the factor incomes and relational rents that relational transactions produce. Today, relational transactions are the rule, not the exception, in modern economies and their global value creation networks. Given its scope and focus, this book will appeal to scholars of economics, economic sociology, organisational studies and related fields.

This book contributes to the development of a relational view of economics. Bringing together experts from various disciplines, it offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the study of relational transactions. In contrast to discrete market transactions as a traditional subject of economic discourse, the book analyses the role of relational transactions in the study of economic phenomena. The contributing authors address topics such as global intra- and inter-company networks, intersectoral stakeholder management, relational contracts, and transcultural management approaches. Accordingly, the book makes an important contribution to an emerging field of research.

Global polycrisis refers to the simultaneous occurrence of multiple interconnected crises. It is marked by the convergence and interaction of combined events, such as geopolitical tensions, economic instability, environmental degradation, public health emergencies, and social disturbance. In this context, this book explores the challenges and opportunities encountered by the Global South amid political instability, climate change, humanitarian crises, technological advancements, and regional cooperation. The book adopts a multidisciplinary framework, integrating theoretical studies with empirical cases from various southern regions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This approach helps to foster an in-depth understanding of the complex challenges associated with development in these regions. The book emphasizes the perspectives and experiences of Global South countries, providing a platform for their voices to be heard. This allows readers to gain a more nuanced understanding of the unique contexts, perspectives, and successful experiences of countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Furthermore, it investigates issues such as governance, security, migration, development, and emergent technologies, illuminates the role of regional organizations in fostering regional integration, peace, and stability and ultimately, provides a comprehensive and refined analysis of the Global South that challenges prevalent stereotypes and offers new perspectives on the world’s complex realities today. It includes case studies that enhance the practical relevance of the book, offering real-world examples that illustrate the theoretical concepts and highlightingsuccessful approaches to addressing development challenges. The book will appeal to scholars, researchers, and students interested in comprehending and addressing the challenges encountered by the Global South in a time of global polycrisis.