In Portugal the concept of interculturalism was adopted by public institutions, especially devised as intercultural dialogue and seems to conform a specific language of incorporation of immigrants and ethnic minorities, assumed as a "third way" model of integration. The Portuguese model was characterized only very fragmentary, due perhaps to its lack of consolidation. It is noted that reviews have been produced, particularly in the context of local projects and programs, which looms large in the synthesis prepared by Malheiros (2011). One of the assumptions stated therein is that interculturalism is a "mechanism" that combines the acquisition of the majority culture with preservation and respect for the cultures of origin, following closely the definition of the White paper on Intercultural Dialogue of the Council of Europe. This interpretation is silent on the dimensions referred to either by Vertovec or by Werbner in their sociological analyzes. Following Vertovec’s suggestion on multiculturalism, the article approaches interculturality as a combination of public policies and institutions. In this context, such models are seen as specific discursive, institutional and practical configurations that produce differentiated patterns of social realization processes of collective identification contradicting visions considering them pure models of political philosophy. Furthermore, we suggest that these settings can be interpreted according to three dimensions: the genesis of the political field of minority governance, institutional and discursive opportunity structures, public narratives of collective belonging. By combining these three dimensions we seek to probe into the political dimension of interculturality. Considering these as a model of cultural diversity governance we can better interpret the term intercuturalism.

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interculturalismo, instituições, governança da diversidade, identidade nacional, estruturas de oportunidade