The MIRIPS project is focused on the psychological aspects, but it takes into account some of these other contextual features of the interacting groups, and of the larger society as a whole. It is situated within the broad field of cross-cultural psychology, which has two core principles (Berry, Poortinga, Segall & Dasen, 2002).

1. individual behaviours are to be understood within
the cultural contexts in which they have developed
and are now displayed.

2. individual behaviours are examined and compared
across a number of cultural contexts in order to
distinguish those that are specific to particular
groups from those that might have more general

Knowledge of these two features of human behaviour is essential if we are to understand intercultural relations as a set of culturally-situated and pan-human phenomena. If there are some general principles to be found, then broadly-applicable policies may be possible.