There are several examples of nations' policies that have worked or failed, as mentioned in the below. These examples show that policies that focus on group identities and privileges can create animosity and fail to create a sense of shared identity. On the other hand, policies that emphasize a shared national identity and merit-based systems can be more successful in preventing ethnic divisions.
Sri Lanka: The policy of ethnic affirmative action failed in Sri Lanka, leading to animosity between the Sinhalese and Tamil groups. The policy began with the "Sinhala Only Act" which made Sinhala the main language for the whole island, putting many Tamil people out of government jobs and university posts because they couldn't speak Sinhala. This led to riots and an all on/off civil war that lasted until 2009. A later policy of affirmative action that benefited the Sinhalese did not make the Tamils feel any better, causing more unrest.
Singapore: Singapore's policy of preventing ethnic enclaves in government housing has had some success in preventing ethnic divisions. However, the country also has a relentless focus on fostering a sense of national identity, with songs and slogans emphasizing a shared Singaporean identity. The country does not have race or group-based affirmative action and in contrast neighbouring Malaysia's affirmative action program has led to ethnic tensions and the perception that ethnic minorities would be better off in Singapore.
Rwanda and Botswana have taken very different approaches to dealing with tribal or racial differences. In Rwanda, the colonial period saw a shift in favour of the Tutsi group, with the Belgians instituting a program of affirmative action that favoured them over the Hutus. When the colonial period ended, the Hutus took over and instituted their own program of affirmative action to level the playing field. This led to a series of pogroms and group conflict between the two groups, culminating in the 1994 genocide. The beneficiaries of affirmative action programs tend to justify their privilege by demonizing the other group. In Rwanda, this led to a deep-seated hatred and division between the Tutsis and Hutus, which festered over the years and finally exploded in violence. (This reminded me of The school that tried to end racism UK CH4).
On the other hand, Botswana took a different approach. They decided from day one that their country would be colour-blind, and they did not record ethnic data since the last British census in 1964. They took the lesson from the experience of their first president, Seretse Khama, who was exiled from his own country for marrying a British woman. They realized that dividing people by race was poisonous and would sow discord in their nation. This approach worked well, as Botswana had the fastest economic growth for 25 years in the whole world and has better corruption and health statistics than most European countries. It is one of the nicest places to visit in the world.
This passage describes how policy was implemented and supported through the demonization of certain groups. In Rwanda, for example, children were forced to identify their ethnic group on the first day of school, and teachers would then go on long rants about the supposed exploitation of Hutus by Tutsis, further fuelling existing divisions and contempt. These attitudes eventually led to the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Protecting gained privileges is another issue that causes resentment. In many countries, affirmative action beneficiaries tend to promote hatred towards the group that is being discriminated against in order to justify their privileges. This is seen in India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia, among others. The beneficiaries need to justify their preferences, and one way to do that is to say that the group they are directing these preferences against is guilty of some sort of subterfuge. This creates a vicious circle where affirmative action promotes conspiracy theories and antagonism, which is then used to justify its existence.
In conclusion, highlighting identity leads to resentment and unrest. The key to fostering a society that can support multiple cultures but come together as one nation is to have policies that promote integration and harmony. The concept of a Melting Pot, where each ingredient blends into and influences the pot, has been a central part of the American identity since the country's founding. However, in recent years, the idea of multiculturalism has gained popularity. While both concepts have strengths and weaknesses, the key to success is finding a balance between them. The goal should be to create an inclusive, diverse, and united society.New paragraph
Throughout history, societies have faced the challenge of how to blend different tribes, cultures, and ethnicities into a cohesive and peaceful whole. Some have succeeded, while others have failed miserably. The concept of multiculturalism and the Melting Pot are two opposite strategies towards diversity, both with their strengths and weaknesses.
The Melting Pot is a long-standing tradition in American history. The first person to mention it was a French immigrant, **Hector St. Jean de Crèvecœur**, during the American Revolution. He talked about how wonderful it was that people could unite in the United States and forge a new race of man. Ralph Waldo Emerson used the same metaphor, discussing a smelting pot where people of different nationalities came together. The work that put the term into everyday use was a play written in 1908 by Israel Zangwell, called The Melting Pot. The concept goes back to the beginning of the United States as a nation. The idea is that each ingredient blends into and influences the pot. The Melting Pot is a two-way assimilation, where immigrants come to the United States and adapt to the U.S. while the U.S. adapts to them a little.
Multiculturalism, on the other hand, took off in the 1970s. Jimmy Carter gave a speech about the United States being a mosaic instead of a Melting Pot. Multiculturalism originated in anthropology schools in the 1950s and 1960s, then spread to the rest of the culture in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. The Multicultural idea is that you maintain ethnic boundaries, recognize group identities, and keep those group identities rather than focusing on people's traits and treating people as individuals.
One of the main strengths of the Melting Pot is that it promotes the idea of a shared identity. When people from different backgrounds come together and make a new culture uniquely American, it creates a sense of solidarity. This is important because it helps to promote social cohesion and reduce social conflict.
However, the Melting Pot also has its weaknesses. One of the main problems with the Melting Pot is that it can lead to cultural assimilation. Encouraging people to blend into the dominant culture can lead to the loss of their unique cultural identity. This can be especially problematic for immigrants who may feel pressured to give up their culture to fit in.
This article discusses the issue of cultural diversity and how different societies have tackled it. It mentions Rome's approach to cultural diversity among its subjects, the early Islamic Empires' policy of religious tolerance, modern-day examples such as Singapore's colour-blind system, and Rwanda's and Botswana's different approaches to dealing with tribal or racial differences. The passage provides examples of policies that have both succeeded and failed, such as Sri Lanka's policy of ethnic affirmative action and Singapore's policy of preventing ethnic enclaves. The goal should be to create an inclusive, diverse, and united society, and the passage highlights the importance of finding a balance between policies that promote integration and harmony while maintaining ethnic identities.
The ancient Roman Empire is a notable example of a real Melting Pot. The concept of a Melting Pot started much earlier than the Empire. We think of a homogeneous group of Romans as Volscians, Sabines, Latins, and half a dozen other groups, even in the early days of the Republic. It was already a syncretic mix of lots of different groups. In the early Imperial days, many other groups were drawn into Rome, such as Gauls, Pannonians, Britons, etc. Rome had the concept that anybody could come and be a Roman. People from Africa who rose up the ranks of the Roman military became consuls, equivalent to being like a president or a prime minister. Their skin colour was irrelevant in their rise up the ladder. Rome was highly successful with this, making it resilient compared to Athens and Sparta, which had a narrowly defined sense of citizenship.
In contrast, the early Islamic Empires had a different approach to multiculturalism. They had a policy of religious tolerance, which helped them to become a superpower. They allowed Christians and Jews to practice their religion but not expand it. The Islamic Empires had the same attitude towards non-Arab Muslims. Those who converted to Islam were considered equal to the Arabs, but their Arab conquerors did not trust or give them equal rights.
Modern-day Rwanda exemplifies how multiculturalism can lead to resentment and unrest. The Tutsi and Hutu groups were originally socially and economically intertwined. However, the Belgians used the Tutsis as intermediaries to manage the Hutus during the colonial era. The Belgians gave Tutsis identification cards to differentiate them from the Hutus. They also gave them better jobs and education opportunities. This led to a polarization of the two groups, and when Rwanda gained independence, the Hutus took power and oppressed the Tutsis. In 1994, this led to a genocide in which an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. Before colonization, Hutus and Tutsis were interchangeable; the imposition of a fixed identity was the spark for trouble.
The Ottoman Empire is another example of multiculturalism gone wrong. It was a melting pot that lasted for centuries. However, the millet system, which allowed non-Muslims to retain their religious autonomy, isolated communities. This led to a lack of integration and a lack of a sense of national identity. When the Ottoman Empire collapsed, it was replaced by nation-states that were not multicultural and led to conflict.
On the other hand, modern-day Singapore is an example of a prosperous multicultural society. Singapore is a melting pot that has been successful because of its strict laws and policies that promote racial harmony. The government has policies that ensure that different ethnic groups are represented in government and the civil service. The government also promotes using English as a common language and has strict laws against hate speech and discrimination—Singapore ejected from Malaysian Federation.
When we think of someone, we often see them as an individual, but we must also consider their cultural background. In Germany, for example, people of Turkish descent who have lived there for three generations are still referred to as "Turks" and are treated as members of a group. This is different from many other countries, where even after hundreds of years, people of different cultural backgrounds are still seen as outsiders. We should remember how special it is in America that we can see a person not just as a member of a particular culture, but as an individual who can become a fellow American.