ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the intersections between culture, media and human rights in the context of radicalisation, extremism and terrorism. It critically compares the clash of cultures involving the West versus Islam with others involving gender, race and ethnicity. The chapter draws on cultural studies and critical theory perspectives; S. Hall's theory of 'othering' in news discourse; Johann Galtung's idea of indirect cultural violence; and intercultural communication informed by D. L. Shaw's theory of human rights journalism in exploring the intersections between culture, media and human rights. The problem of communicating cultural differences resonates with what founder of peace research, J. Galtung, called 'cultural violence', and which he categorized as 'Attitude in his Attitude, Behaviour and Contradictions (ABC) Conflict Triangle'. Race has since the era of the Slave Trade provided a space where ideological and cultural differences are contested in 'us' versus 'them' binary terms, especially in times of crisis such as riots, demonstrations, civil conflicts, and humanitarian disasters.
