Multiculturalism has guided policy practice on cultural diversity issues in several countries since the 1970s. Later developments suggested inter-culturalism rather than multi-, stressing the need to develop more bridges between the different communities. However, the leading principles - of inclusion, universal rights and prevention of discrimination - remained similar. Yet this whole discourse came under pressure in the second decade of the 21st century, as inter-ethnic violence escalated in several cities. This also happened to the guidelines for urban diversity management, developed by the the Intercultural Cities Network, as the present paper will describe.
Founded in 2008 by the Council of Europe, the network "supports cities -- in developing intercultural strategies to help them manage diversity positively" (ICC, 2018). The network publicizes guidelines for urban diversity, based on the equality discourse and emphasizing the "Diversity Advantage" (ICC, 2017), However, following the ISIS attacks in Europe in 2015, the implementation was increasingly more difficult, as the security and new war or 'Clash of Civilizations' discourse became more dominant (Huntington, 1996). This discourse emphasizes suspicion, intelligence work and 'looking out for the enemy'.
Based on interviews with Heads of Integration Departments of member cities in the ICC network, the paper analyses the strategies used by these officers as they 'juggle' the tension between these two conflicting discourses, and presents the creative and surprising solutions they find for these contradictions.
