Does multiculturalism in a nation cause more harm than good?

Question

I think multiculturalism is a recipe for a waiting disaster. Once you start mixing a society with various different religions, languages, cultures, different social mannerism, ethnicities and political beliefs is bound to cause lots of problems within that nation. Thoughts?

tartaarsaus · Accepted Answer

I doubt there is significant support for the idea that multiculturalism on the aggregate level causes more harm than good. For example, crime rates among immigrants (and their descendants) here tend to be significantly higher. However, for the most part, 95-98% of them are not suspect of a crime, and crime tends to be overall rather minor.

I find it pretty damn hard to argue that 95-98% not being suspect of a crime and just participating in society does not outweigh the overrepresentation of those groups in the crime statistics anyway.

But even then, we are making the erroneous assumption that ethnicity and crime are inherently related, which is simply not the case. It'd be much more reasonable to take this in account given the socio-economic situation, considering that is a pretty solid predictor of crime statistics. In other words, as wealth among immigrants (and descendants) increases, it is highly likely that the crime rates will decrease. And we have seen a decrease in crime statistics over the year over the board.

Poverty rates are certainly higher among immigrants (and their descendants), but again, that is generally decreasing. And then the other argument is relevant; I'd argue that 95% of people living their life normally outweights a few percentage. Especially considering there is an inherent need for immigration in the country, since it does bring in greater labour force to sustain social security payments and alike over a timespan of the next century.

But perhaps problems ensue in the sphere of politics? Nope. Here in the Netherlands we have seen one party of exactly 3% of parliament more focused on immigrants. However, by far most of the non-western immigrants vote on the traditionally dominant labour parties here. Clearly, not a major shift in politics here nor infusion of radical ideas on a large scale. Perhaps language? This is literally just a matter of proper education.

The point is, yes, there are downsides to bringing in immigrants, even if they commit crime at a higher rate (though that is a simplistic conclusion). However, there are inherent benefits to bringing in more, such as economic value, increased competitiveness of a country, sourcing important jobs from abroad, increasing the workforce to sustain the social security system and alike. Hence, I doubt it is remotely reasonable to argue that multiculturalism on the aggregate level causes more harm than good. Unless someone is inherently against any mixing, but that's stupid

N192K001 · Accepted Answer

Yes… if the mix is right. (It's like cooking and/or baking. You need he right ingredients & proportions. Otherwise, ruin is inevitable… unless you're able to somehow identifying the destructive ingredients and neutralize them… or re-purpose them to work-out right.)

Back in the Philippines, we've had the Chinese trading and moving-in with us since the Ming dynasty onward, and they never gave us any serious problems. (The Chinese Communist Party 'dynasty' in the mainland, though…Yes, they've been problematic as of late, but I consider that small oligarchy separate from the masses Chinese people and this dynasty's problems are small compared to the centuries of benefit provided earlier. And the Chinese in Taiwan beyond the party's hold are again not a problem to us.) They gave us great food, useful vocabulary, practical ideas, etc.

The waves of well-monied Korean & American retirees (plus Korean students moving-in for a few years to learn English) are only benefiting us as far as I see. They spend in the country. And if they start businesses, they introduce goods & services we would never have enjoyed otherwise.

The Spaniards (who invaded us and ruled us for 300years) both created what we are now and also massively destroyed what we already had. But then again, we didn't really have control of that, likewise with invasions & administration of U. S. & Japanese forces. Just how much did the benefit/harm us? That is up to debate today.

As for Muslims… that becomes difficult. They also contribute to the nation… but make parallel societies that either try to impose on the rest of us or start wars to begin a new nation altogether separate from everyone else. Their culture is way too different, it seems, to be compatible.

SpiderManFan2002 · Accepted Answer

No, it doesn't cause a problem if you're mature enough to accept and maybe even embrace your differences.

This is coming from someone who has grown up in a multicultural society and have lived among and become friends with people of different races, religions/non-religions, beliefs, sexualities, etc.

In fact, it makes me a less ignorant person because I'm not only aware of people like me, but I'm aware of different people too.

I'm a Muslim brown British Pakistani meat-eater.
Whereas my best friend who's like a sister to me, is an Atheist white British Hungarian vegan. Our differences didn't do us any harm.

And actually before she moved to this city, she lived in a place which wasn't multicultural at all and that's where she grew up. She moved to our city, a multicultural place and personally to her, she prefers it here with all different kinds of people than in her old town with mainly one kind of person.

If people fight about their differences, and then blame multiculturalism then they're immature in my eyes. The problem isn't the multiculturalism. The problem is the people not being able to accept someone different to them.

IslanderSparkle_Siki · Accepted Answer

So far I been living in a multicultural country, there's no such thing, maybe it work best with small population. But I noticed that political figures are more into divide and rule and does't want communities to stay together.

JimboGB · Answer

100% it causes more harm. You can't bring in a different culture with different languages, God, customs and historic baggage and not expect division, not if you're being realistic and not ideological.

Then you have those who are clearly minorities but yet attack the majority as racist and hateful for simply having homelands of their own where they have built up prosperity for their people, even that has become a problem to those imported into the nation.

What have we gained exactly If you're not from the indigenous group you don't really have an opinion on this. Or it is irrelevant. Multiculturalism has failed horrible, we hold on to pathetic enrichment like we can buy curries now or something (like we couldn't before multiculturalism) it only works if you ignore the number of terrorist attacks, it works if you ignore the mass racist rape of white children numbered 20,000 per year (girls) at the hands of Pakistani grooming gangs. Now with the BLM hate mongers have really shown this will never be home to some, they will ignore the progress to reunite the hatred of the past. Multiculturalism has never worked, every nation standing together was built on different ideals than diversity being our strength lol

SuccessfulHornDog · Answer

I dont object to multiculturalism. It can be a source of strength. But multiculturalism shouldn't be celebrated at the expense of assimilation. We all come from different places and from different cultures that have different customs. That is part of what makes America strong. We can be proud of these differences and celebrate them but not to a degree where people don't learn to speak English. English should be mandatory simply to tie us all together. If you want to speak another language that is fine but allowing communities to exist without making an attempt to fit in with the existing language and culture is a recipe for disaster.

There is no common sense anymore. Schools, teachers, politicians... They're acting like idiots

Giving politicians like Omar and AOC a huge platform all in the name of political correctness is also foolishness. The media becomes even more biased by giving these outliers a much bigger voice, all at the expense of every other American of every race and religion.

Anonymous · Answer

No. Multiculturalism is by it's nature only a transitory state between two dominant cultural states. Either the additional culture (s) gets assimilated and a new dominant culture forms, or the additional culture (s) are purged or form insular groups (e. g Chinatown) which may or may not alter the dominant culture. The only semblance of "multiculturalism" that is truly sustainable is small but consistent immigration -- varying proportionally to the likeness of the new culture to the dominant culture. Bringing Canadians into the US? No big deal, they're quite similar so you could let in quite a few before it made a splash. There's a lot of talk about Hong Kong right now, I think they share a lot of liberal values and would fit right into the liberty mindset of the US. But something like Saudi Arabia I think wouldn't have immigrants that would assimilate so easily so they should be much fewer than others more similar in culture to the US.

So basically multiculturalism is nonsense it just doesn't exist on a large scale, and to the extent that you see insular communities in the US which give it that multicultural appearance, they've been there a while and are essentially united under the idea of being American. New cultures coming would need to be ready to be American first.

Nalix · Answer

There is a common saying these days "diversity is our strength". Many proponents of multiculturalism will tell you this. While there is merit to this argument, they are usually unaware that unity must come first in order for diversity to lead to strength. Diversity is a strength only after unity has been established.

Multiculturalism can be quite powerful if all of the cultures involved agree on the same basic values and goals as a society. Otherwise, yes, it's a recipe for disaster.

Jack9949 · Answer

Absolutely 1000% correct. That’s why the US needs to ban muslims from entering. They don’t share our values. They believe in a false God. I’ve got no issues with Hispanic people tho cuz they tend to value the same things I do.

AcidT0y · Answer

Some cultures are fundamentally incompatible with each other and mixing them together is just asking for trouble.

If you move to a country you should integrate with their culture. Can't expect everyone to accomodate cultural behaviours that are not acceptable just for fear of appearing racist. (Though to be fair if you're in the UK it seems you absolutely can...)

WhiteSteve · Answer

I mean, the issue for me isn’t so much the multiculturalism as much as it is that people can’t seem to stand people acting any differently than them, which I don’t get, because to me, Rule #1 of life is mind your own business. I just don’t understand why we all live in such fear and distrust and disdain of/for one another. It’s just sad.

VanillaSalt · Answer

When you Mia difference there’s gonna be more problems... don’t mean we can’t, shouldn’t, or won’t try though... this division of racism isn’t as prominent as the media would like you to believe.

It exists to be sure but everyone isn’t racist. This is people storing the pot and their the real problem. Not the difference in culture and racism.

If left alone racism will naturally die out but every time it’s close people bring it back up.

ObscuredBeyond · Answer

If there isn't some commonality of goal around which to assimilate, then you won't have an organized nation for long. You'll just have warring tribes, destroying everything. Happens to every continent on Earth that refuses to learn this lesson.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

It is a challenge - but a very positive one.
Surely, there will be frictions here or there; but the benefits clearly outweigh those.
Trouble being, that the very simple people usually can't cope with the intellectual/mental challenge that comes with it.

Marilynjuana · Answer

Agreed. The best way to predict future behaviour is to take a look at the past. Guess what, shit like this never worked.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes, it's been tried before, many times in history, and it's always failed.

RyanK9 · Answer

It never worked. It brought soon or later only problems.  Cultures should be separated so they can develop better. Mixing deletes the other cultures or makes one that is weird

Antelope · Answer

I think fighting multiculturalism causes more problems than multiculturalism itself. Look at China, who is hard at work repressing multiple cultures as we speak, and is thus all the more unstable because of it. Meanwhile in Canada, for instance, their embrace of multiple cultures has made them a viable destination for immigrants and thus economic growth

ItsTheNephilim · Answer

From my experience, unfortunately yes. But it'd be a lot better if people could learn to keep their shit to themselves and not brush off their own things on others.

Dream_Resonance · Answer

Not a disaster. Imagine what American food would be without immigrants.. I think it’s only bad when one or more of them become a ruling class. In other words class system is what ruins a country.

JoseLuisGonalez · Answer

Let's look at the increasingly small number of countries that don't have multiculturalism, so for example Japan. They have cultural and economic stagnation, ageing population and a falling birthrate. Suddenly multiculturalism doesn't look so bad.

OfDeath · Answer

I don't think so except when everyone learns one race used to kind of control another. Then everyone turns against that one race.

Seeingdouble · Answer

Hmm I don't know; this is a very interesting perspective. Why do you think it would cause problems?

ovixs90 · Answer

Yes there is not many benefist i think it was done on purpose. Where many different cultures there will always be dissagrementa

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