In the context of cultural and economic globalization, the appropriation as well as the exploration and mediation of intercultural competencies is of great importance. This key qualification is increasingly expected and demanded in the job market. This introduction provides information on concepts, problem areas, methods, theoretical approaches, and key terms of intercultural communication, along with numerous illustrative examples. The author analyzes interaction situations (in learning, in business, and in multicultural societies) and describes additional focal points such as cultural transfer (in media and advertising) and processes of external perception (stereotype formation, prejudice structures, etc.). The fourth edition has been thoroughly updated, with expanded sections on intercultural learning, team building, and P.