Intercultural communication of close cultures in the light of the Czech-Polish case

This paper puts the issue of Czech-Polish relationships into a context of the intercultural communication. The culturological approach used for the analysis of the communication between cultures brings a new holistic view. Factors of close cultures, the impact of a conflict as well as the importance of intercultural competences are analysed. Based on the Czech-Polish case, barriers to the intercultural communication are specified and discussed. These barriers rise from language, stereotypes, information, religion and history. A question of comicality and prestige of a language not to say entire culture is articulated. The new Network Theory of Barriers is suggested which introduces a closely related networked set of above mentioned obstacles. New platforms for the intercultural dialogue are outlined that can bring a possibility to step out of the circle of misunderstanding. These platforms consist of improving language skills, international institutions and the Internet.