Re: Decline of Social Capital caused by increased diversity?

From: Charles Hixson (charleshixsn@earthlink.net)
Date: Tue Apr 01 2003 - 12:01:07 MST

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    cryofan@mylinuxisp.com wrote:

    >...However, here is article discussing a paper by an MIT social scientist that
    >indicates that social capital is decreased by ethnic and cultural diversity:
    >
    >http://vdare.com/letters/tl_033103.htm
    >
    >
    >I have always thought that the basic premise that diversity is inherently
    >beneficial is flawed, just because of the conclusion drawn by the cited paper.
    >I have always thought that it was obvious, mainly because it is much easier
    >for the citizenry to control the govt when the populace is homogenous.
    >Witness Switzerland and Iceland, and to a (continually) lesser degree,
    >Scandanavia.
    >
    There's not conflict here. Homogeneous environments are, when well
    adapted, more efficient (allowing for requisite specializations). But
    they are excessively vulnerable to even slight variations in the
    environment. And they provide fertile ground for any predator, be it a
    virus or a meme (or anything else). So there is a trade off between
    short term and long term benefits.

    -- 
    -- Charles Hixson
    Gnu software that is free,
    The best is yet to be.
    


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