Abstract:

Background:
Since the late 20th century, multicultural and intercultural approaches, rooted in values of diversity and inclusion, have guided the Israeli educational discourse. In our teacher training college, which serves both Jewish and Arab students, these values have been institutionalized through a dedicated Multicultural Unit and mandatory courses designed to foster tolerance, humility, and mutual caring.

The challenge:
In the current era, AI-driven social media algorithms have exacerbated social polarization. This, combined with the heightened hostility between Jewish and Arab citizens following the October 2023 war, has created significant resistance to traditional multicultural pedagogies. Many students and faculty members are currently in the “Defense” stage of Milton Bennett’s (2013) DMIS model, characterized by cultural superiority, stereotypical perceptions of the “other”, and a sense of threat from intercultural contact. Consequently, institutional attempts to create multiple opportunities for personal and cultural acquaintance, to encourage joint learning, to allow maximum expression of the unique lifestyles of different cultural groups in the institutional space are often met with anger and resistance.

The proposed model:
To address these challenges, we have redesigned our pedagogical framework. This presentation outlines a novel course model, currently in its pilot phase, that temporarily shifts the focus from cultural sensitivity and intercultural competence to the cultivation of social solidarity within a pragmatic utilitarian framework. By engaging in solving community problems that are not directly related to national identity, students identify mutual interests and functional cooperation, bypassing initial emotional and ideological resistance.

Significance:
The presentation will discuss how this utilitarian approach serves as a necessary “stepping stone”. The goal is to establish a foundation of basic tolerance and shared stability, which can facilitate a return to deeper multicultural and intercultural values in the future. This model offers a scalable strategy for educators working in high-conflict zones or polarized societies.

Keywords:

Multicultural education, teacher training, social solidarity, AI-driven polarization.