Diversity and Democratic Politics: An Introduction

Abstract

Abstract.In recent years, there has been increasing popular and academic debate about how ethnic and racial diversity affects democratic politics and social cohesion in industrialized liberal democracies. In this introduction, different interdisciplinary theoretical approaches for understanding the role of diversity for intergroup relations and social cohesion are reviewed and four extensions to the current literature are proposed. These include taking advantage of a comparative framework to understand how generalizable the consequences of diversity are. A comparative country approach also helps to reveal which policies might be able to mitigate any potential negative consequences of diversity. Most importantly, we propose that the research in this area should include other aspects of social cohesion beyond measures of generalized trust, such as solidarity, attitudes about the welfare state and redistributive justice, as well as political and social tolerance. Finally, research on the effects of diversity might gain more insights from taking less of a majority-centric approach to include the effects on various minority groups as well.Résumé.Ces dernières années ont procuré un sol fertile au débat populaire et universitaire autour des effets de la diversité ethnique et raciale sur la politique démocratique et sur la cohésion sociale dans les démocraties libérales industrialisées. Dans cette introduction, nous passons en revue diverses approches théoriques interdisciplinaires permettant de clarifier le rôle de la diversité dans les relations entre les groupes et dans la cohésion sociale et nous proposons quatre ajouts à la littérature courante. Nous suggérons, entre autres, de tirer profit d'un cadre comparatif pour comprendre à quel point les conséquences de la diversité sont généralisables. Une étude comparative des pays aide également à cerner les politiques qui pourraient atténuer les conséquences négatives potentielles de la diversité. Par-dessus tout, nous avançons que la recherche dans ce domaine devrait inclure d'autres aspects de la cohésion sociale à part les mesures de la confiance généralisée, des aspects tels que la solidarité, les attitudes envers l'État-providence et la justice redistributive, ainsi que la tolérance politique et sociale. Finalement, la recherche sur les effets de la diversité pourrait devenir plus instructive en adoptant une approche moins centrée sur la majorité afin d'inclure également les effets sur divers groupes minoritaires.

Does Diversity Erode Social Cohesion? Conceptual and Methodological Issues

“…Together with the contrary results, these methodological shortcomings should alert us to the dangers of drawing any conclusions regarding the relationship between diversity and social cohesion. These findings highlight the concerns raised by Hooghe (), Harell and Stolle () and Portes and Vickstrom () concerning the integration of the issue of social cohesion into future research. In light of the increasing sense of foreboding regarding the implications of diversity for social cohesion, I hope that this study demonstrates the caution that should be exercised when the multifaceted concept of social cohesion is employed in discussions of immigration and integration.…”

Is There a Trade-off between Multiculturalism and Socio-Political Integration? Policy Regimes and Immigrant Incorporation in Comparative Perspective

“…20 Barry 2002. 22 Banting et al 2006 For a review of this literature, see Harell and Stolle 2010. 22 Banting et al 2006 For a review of this literature, see Harell and Stolle 2010.…”

Alternative Measures of American National Identity: Implications for the Civic‐Ethnic Distinction

“…Increased ethnic diversity in a democratic polity is widely believed to be a potential threat to social solidarity and civil peace (e.g., Harell & Stolle, 2010). In this context, an inclusive conception of nationality is thought to be essential for social harmony in multiethnic societies for several reasons.…”