From many, one: employing social representations theory to today’s migration crisis facilitating mediation in the encounter of different cultures

Worldwide human mobility flows across borders have significant humanitarian and social effects and repercussions, more so in most recent years due to the increased numbers of people on the move escaping from wars, natural catastrophes or poverty. Such population movements determine the coming together of different cultural groups which can be challenging and can create issues. Nevertheless, migration can also resolve into an opportunity for positive relations between the self and the other, in particular when viewing the phenomenon from a humanity-centered perspective or when there is a deeper knowledge and mutual understanding. By drawing on the outcomes of quantitative and qualitative instruments addressing verbal, textual, iconic and projective aspects, and applying the modelling approach research framework that is based on the blending of diverse theoretical constructs as well as on their related analysis procedures, the social representations produced by migrants and local community groups were analyzed and compared in order to trace self-identities and emotions, memories, social positioning and new common social environment developed following the coming together of migrants and locals. This empirical investigation was performed in Germany with the support of Malteser Werke, a well-known charity organization responsible for managing facilities for refugees throughout the country. 76 female and male migrant and local community adults from over 30 countries and from solidarity and humanitarian contexts were involved on voluntary basis. They all contributed to this research aimed at analyzing direct interaction and contact as well as reciprocal knowledge and experiences as regards the migration phenomenon, offering noteworthy results and insights for developing policies and actions leading to the strengthening of social inclusion and to the construction of peaceful multicultural communities established on a human-focused vision of the citizens of tomorrow.