^aGraduate Studies of Education, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Cunha Gago 724 — apt 101, 05421-001 São Paulo, Brazil. E mail: roselif@usp.br

Abstract

The debate about intercultural dialogue and intercultural learning in Brazil must first consider the excluded 'Brazils'. Indeed Brazil has been labeled a 'racial democracy', although the inequality is at one of the highest levels in the world. This article proposes the analysis of the role of education, particularly higher education, in the process of social construction of inequality, and its relations with cultural diversity. To that aim one must reflect on at least four different sources of cultural diversity: the situation of indigenous peoples; the situation of African descendents; the particularities of immigration to Brazil; and the singularities of the religious situation in Brazil.