*EPF409 07/15/2004
Cultural Diversity Not a Threat to Development, U.N. Report Says
(New report debunks myths linking diversity with conflict) (840)

By Jon Schaffer
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Acceptance of cultural diversity could prevent conflict and promote economic development, according to a new report issued by the United Nations.

"Policies recognizing cultural identities and encouraging diversity to flourish do not result in fragmentation, conflict, weak development or authoritarian rule," the report said. "Such policies are both viable, and necessary, for it is often the suppression of culturally identified groups that leads to tensions."

The report, "Human Development Report 2004: Cultural Liberty in Today's Diverse World," was issued July 15 and is available on the worldwide web at: http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2004/

Citing multiple ethnic struggles and issues, from the Tamil-Sinhala conflict in Sri Lanka and differences between Kurds and Shiites in Iraq to proposals in the French legislature to ban religious symbols in public schools, the report said that efforts to suppress ethnic identities can lead to regressive and xenophobic policies that retard human development.

It said that more than two-thirds of countries have minority groups that make up more than 10 percent of the population and that nearly a billion people belong to groups subject to some form of discrimination.

The report addresses and debunks five commonly held myths about cultural diversity:

-- "People's ethnic identities compete with their attachment to the state, so there is a trade-off between recognizing diversity and unifying the state." The U.N. report says that there is no empirical evidence to support a trade-off between diversity and state unity. It said that individuals can and do have multiple identities that are complementary -- ethnicity, language, religion and race. For example, many Mexican-Americans may cheer for the Mexican soccer team while still serving in the U.S. Army, it said. The Flemish and Walloons regard themselves as Belgian, and the Catalans and Basques see themselves as Spanish without jeopardizing state unity, it said.

-- "Ethnic groups are prone to violent conflict with each other in clashes of values, so there is a trade-off between respecting diversity and sustaining peace." Even though violent conflicts between ethnic groups do exist, the report said that cultural differences are not the relevant factor but, rather, struggles over political power, land and other economic assets are. This has been evident, for example, in struggles in Fiji, Sri Lanka and in Burundi and Rwanda, it said.

"Cultural identity does have a role in these conflicts -- not as a cause but as a driver for political mobilization," the report said. "Leaders invoke a single identity, its symbols and its history of grievances, to 'rally the troops'. And a lack of cultural recognition can trigger violent mobilization." The U.N. report said that identity politics need to be managed so that solutions to economic and political inequalities are not thought to be resolvable through the use violence.

-- "Cultural liberty requires defending traditional practices, so there could be a trade-off between recognizing cultural diversity and other human development priorities, such as progress in development, democracy and human rights." The report said that culture is not static and that cultural liberty is about expanding individual choices, not about preserving values and practices as ends in themselves. Culture and tradition should not be used as reasons for allowing practices that deny individuals human rights, it said. A good model, it said, is the Sami people in Finland, who enjoy autonomy but are part of the Finnish state.

-- "Ethnically diverse countries are less able to develop, so there is a trade-off between respecting diversity and promoting development." The report argued that there is no evidence of a positive or negative relationship between cultural diversity and development. It pointed out the success of the Malaysian economy with its mix of Malays, Chinese and Indians, and of progress made by Mauritius with its diverse population not only of Africans, Indians, Chinese and Europeans but also of Hindus, Christians and Muslims.

-- "Some cultures are more likely to make developmental progress than others, and some cultures have inherent democratic values while others do not, so there is a trade-off between accommodating certain cultures and promoting development and democracy." The report said there is no econometric or historical analysis to support the idea that a group's culture explains economic performance or the advance of democracy. On the contrary, arguments of "cultural determinism" can fuel support for nationalistic policies that oppress cultures and stand in the way of national unity, democracy and development, it said.

A major feature of the annual U.N. Human Development Report is its ranking of the "quality of life" in countries throughout the world. Topping the list this year were Norway, Sweden, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands. The United States was ranked eighth. The index is based on per-capita income, educational level, health care and life expectancy. A decline in the overall index for Africa reflected the AIDS crisis, which has reduced life expectancy in many countries.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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