ABSTRACT
Society and academics should discuss hospitality toward migration because it concerns what kind of society we represent and what we aim to be. People are on the move and how we react to this relates to common humanity. Traditional notions of hospitality are interwoven with religion, including Christianity. The Christian connotations connected to the concept have become part of the problem in public discourse, as it may be perceived as moralizing. Practices inspired by traditional Christian values reveal that there is sometimes more than moralizing going on.
The chapter introduces the concept of dialogical hospitality, which specifies the discussion of hospitality more closely and is a useful tool for analyzing and/or understanding practices. The concept specifically contains the term hospitality because it in itself is practice. The chapter explains and accounts for the characteristics of dialogical hospitality, emphasizing, trouble, decentring, creativity, disharmony, exchange and multidirectional practices.
If hospitality is dialogical, then normativity becomes central, as there are differences in rules, preferences, and conditions that relate to power. Using a fragile term that entails the figures “guest” and “host” forces awareness of the troubles. And in this case, troubles, disturbances, and conflicts are the norms.
