This book argues that the field of Intercultural Communication Education and Research (ICER) has often been compromised by uncritical, market-driven approaches that create an illusion of progress. The author demonstrates how hollow buzzwords, superficial models and a focus on harmony often mask power imbalances and prevent meaningful change. To counter this, the book proposes a practice of intercultural acrobatics – the creation and strategic use of new, provisional terms. These concepts act as deliberate disruptions to challenge stagnant thinking, expose contradictions and reclaim interculturality as a site for critical, justice-oriented work. The book provides a practical toolkit for scholars, educators and students to move beyond comfortable consensus and engage more honestly with the complex realities of difference.
