Introduction

Multi-culturalism has a long history, in how countries have negotiated their differences and similarities. Generally, increasing communication and travel have improved international communication, which is evident in many educational and professional spheres. Psychoanalysis has, of course, been applied to different cultures, but as a system in itself, not one that has to consider what culture might mean, how it affects an individual and group, both consciously and unconsciously. Culture has been viewed as a screen, a defence, and very much belonging to the “external” world as opposed to the “internal”. Few writers have been interested to discover the manifestations of cultural material into the unconscious. A good architect would never dream of constructing a building without taking into account the external environment, including the existing surrounding structure, even how weather conditions are likely to affect the structure and style of living.