hi so 2016 was not a good year for politics in my family like many
politics in my family like many
politics in my family like many Americans I spent much of the year
Americans I spent much of the year
Americans I spent much of the year obsessively following the u.s.
obsessively following the u.s.
obsessively following the u.s. presidential elections and like many
presidential elections and like many
presidential elections and like many Brits my husband did the same for brexit
Brits my husband did the same for brexit
Brits my husband did the same for brexit in both cases our side lost so both of
in both cases our side lost so both of
in both cases our side lost so both of these votes demonstrate among other
these votes demonstrate among other
these votes demonstrate among other things a fierce backlash against
things a fierce backlash against
things a fierce backlash against immigration and multiculturalism a
immigration and multiculturalism a
immigration and multiculturalism a backlash that we can see in a number of
backlash that we can see in a number of
backlash that we can see in a number of other Western countries and for me as
other Western countries and for me as
other Western countries and for me as for many of us this backlash is deeply
for many of us this backlash is deeply
for many of us this backlash is deeply disturbing so for me this is not only as
disturbing so for me this is not only as
disturbing so for me this is not only as somebody of diverse background I happen
somebody of diverse background I happen
somebody of diverse background I happen to be of Japanese American and
to be of Japanese American and
to be of Japanese American and Scandinavian American descent but it’s
Scandinavian American descent but it’s
Scandinavian American descent but it’s also as a political scientist and I
also as a political scientist and I
also as a political scientist and I Fetty issues of ethnic politics and
Fetty issues of ethnic politics and
Fetty issues of ethnic politics and conflict around the world almost as
conflict around the world almost as
conflict around the world almost as disturbing for me is the political
disturbing for me is the political
disturbing for me is the political polarization that’s emerged around these
polarization that’s emerged around these
polarization that’s emerged around these issues so I’ve heard a lot of talk for
issues so I’ve heard a lot of talk for
issues so I’ve heard a lot of talk for example about the extent to which racism
example about the extent to which racism
example about the extent to which racism played a role in the recent votes and
played a role in the recent votes and
played a role in the recent votes and I’m not saying that it didn’t and I’m
I’m not saying that it didn’t and I’m
I’m not saying that it didn’t and I’m not saying it’s not something worth
not saying it’s not something worth
not saying it’s not something worth studying and considering and seriously
studying and considering and seriously
studying and considering and seriously addressing but at the same time this
addressing but at the same time this
addressing but at the same time this sort of labeling and dismissing of all
sort of labeling and dismissing of all
sort of labeling and dismissing of all of those who voted for the other side
of those who voted for the other side
of those who voted for the other side that often not always but often goes
that often not always but often goes
that often not always but often goes along with this discussion I think is
along with this discussion I think is
along with this discussion I think is also dangerous and as a result it’s
also dangerous and as a result it’s
also dangerous and as a result it’s becoming harder and harder to see a
becoming harder and harder to see a
becoming harder and harder to see a common ground from which we can all move
common ground from which we can all move
common ground from which we can all move forward so as a researcher what insights
forward so as a researcher what insights
forward so as a researcher what insights can I offer from research into this
can I offer from research into this
can I offer from research into this polarized debate so I’d like to
polarized debate so I’d like to
polarized debate so I’d like to highlight three points the first point
highlight three points the first point
highlight three points the first point is that diversity does have wanted and
is that diversity does have wanted and
is that diversity does have wanted and unwanted effects and in fact
unwanted effects and in fact
unwanted effects and in fact conventional wisdom among many
conventional wisdom among many
conventional wisdom among many economists and political scientists has
economists and political scientists has
economists and political scientists has been that diversity is linked to
been that diversity is linked to
been that diversity is linked to conflict under development and
conflict under development and
conflict under development and for governance and in particular a
for governance and in particular a
for governance and in particular a number of scholars point to sub-saharan
number of scholars point to sub-saharan
number of scholars point to sub-saharan Africa which is the most ethnically
Africa which is the most ethnically
Africa which is the most ethnically diverse region in the world and they
diverse region in the world and they
diverse region in the world and they argue that this has something to do with
argue that this has something to do with
argue that this has something to do with the fact that it’s also the poorest so
the fact that it’s also the poorest so
the fact that it’s also the poorest so this relationship the idea that
this relationship the idea that
this relationship the idea that diversity poses these big challenges has
diversity poses these big challenges has
diversity poses these big challenges has been called one of the most powerful
been called one of the most powerful
been called one of the most powerful hypotheses in political economy and it’s
hypotheses in political economy and it’s
hypotheses in political economy and it’s actually been argued that it is so
actually been argued that it is so
actually been argued that it is so well-established empirically that the
well-established empirically that the
well-established empirically that the evidence is so solid that we should stop
evidence is so solid that we should stop
evidence is so solid that we should stop studying whether it exists and we should
studying whether it exists and we should
studying whether it exists and we should instead focus on studying why it exists
instead focus on studying why it exists
instead focus on studying why it exists however there is also a growing body of
however there is also a growing body of
however there is also a growing body of research that challenges this
research that challenges this
research that challenges this conventional wisdom so in a recent
conventional wisdom so in a recent
conventional wisdom so in a recent article looking at Zambia for example my
article looking at Zambia for example my
article looking at Zambia for example my colleagues and I show that there’s
colleagues and I show that there’s
colleagues and I show that there’s actually a positive relationship between
actually a positive relationship between
actually a positive relationship between diversity and better health outcomes
diversity and better health outcomes
diversity and better health outcomes evidence of a diversity dividend
evidence of a diversity dividend
evidence of a diversity dividend what’s more other researchers have shown
what’s more other researchers have shown
what’s more other researchers have shown that this widely believed negative
that this widely believed negative
that this widely believed negative relationship doesn’t exist in places
relationship doesn’t exist in places
relationship doesn’t exist in places with stronger institutions or with
with stronger institutions or with
with stronger institutions or with overarching community identities or
overarching community identities or
overarching community identities or community spirit if you will and still
community spirit if you will and still
community spirit if you will and still other research shows that they’re
other research shows that they’re
other research shows that they’re actually direct benefits to diversity in
actually direct benefits to diversity in
actually direct benefits to diversity in terms of innovation so the magic of
terms of innovation so the magic of
terms of innovation so the magic of Silicon Valley so this story goes owes a
Silicon Valley so this story goes owes a
Silicon Valley so this story goes owes a lot to the fact that such a high
lot to the fact that such a high
lot to the fact that such a high percentage of its population was born
percentage of its population was born
percentage of its population was born outside of the United States what we
outside of the United States what we
outside of the United States what we should all be focusing on then is how to
should all be focusing on then is how to
should all be focusing on then is how to create and nurture policies and
create and nurture policies and
create and nurture policies and institutions that support diversity
institutions that support diversity
institutions that support diversity benefits and minimize its costs and to
benefits and minimize its costs and to
benefits and minimize its costs and to do this we need clear sighted realistic
do this we need clear sighted realistic
do this we need clear sighted realistic understandings about what about
understandings about what about
understandings about what about diversity precisely makes it sometimes
diversity precisely makes it sometimes
diversity precisely makes it sometimes beneficial and sometimes problematic so
beneficial and sometimes problematic so
beneficial and sometimes problematic so I want to talk about difference and this
I want to talk about difference and this
I want to talk about difference and this is my second point
is my second point
is my second point what about diversity precisely makes it
what about diversity precisely makes it
what about diversity precisely makes it sometimes problematic why is it a
sometimes problematic why is it a
sometimes problematic why is it a challenge
challenge
challenge well many arguments boil down to just
well many arguments boil down to just
well many arguments boil down to just this
this
this ethnic and religious difference can
ethnic and religious difference can
ethnic and religious difference can imply conflict over cultural norms
imply conflict over cultural norms
imply conflict over cultural norms beliefs preferences value systems and
beliefs preferences value systems and
beliefs preferences value systems and this conflict can be destructive and
this conflict can be destructive and
this conflict can be destructive and costly for societies I think a lot of
costly for societies I think a lot of
costly for societies I think a lot of good examples here relate to language in
good examples here relate to language in
good examples here relate to language in schools and in government we might think
schools and in government we might think
schools and in government we might think of countries as different as Canada and
of countries as different as Canada and
of countries as different as Canada and Cameroon for instance which have both
Cameroon for instance which have both
Cameroon for instance which have both had major long-running debates over
had major long-running debates over
had major long-running debates over whether English or French should be
whether English or French should be
whether English or French should be primary such differences create not only
primary such differences create not only
primary such differences create not only outright conflicts but also
outright conflicts but also
outright conflicts but also inefficiencies or extra costs so if we
inefficiencies or extra costs so if we
inefficiencies or extra costs so if we take the language example it probably
take the language example it probably
take the language example it probably does cost a bit more to provide services
does cost a bit more to provide services
does cost a bit more to provide services in two languages rather than one still
in two languages rather than one still
in two languages rather than one still these sorts of inefficiencies can also
these sorts of inefficiencies can also
these sorts of inefficiencies can also often be managed made to work well and
often be managed made to work well and
often be managed made to work well and lead to new things and here I can give
lead to new things and here I can give
lead to new things and here I can give you a personal example so when my
you a personal example so when my
you a personal example so when my husband and I were planning our wedding
husband and I were planning our wedding
husband and I were planning our wedding a huge sticking point for us was the
a huge sticking point for us was the
a huge sticking point for us was the service we’re not religious either of us
service we’re not religious either of us
service we’re not religious either of us but we both wanted something that
but we both wanted something that
but we both wanted something that reflected our cultural backgrounds and
reflected our cultural backgrounds and
reflected our cultural backgrounds and so no one single Church would do and as
so no one single Church would do and as
so no one single Church would do and as a result we had the only Buddhist
a result we had the only Buddhist
a result we had the only Buddhist Lutheran Muslim wedding ceremony that
Lutheran Muslim wedding ceremony that
Lutheran Muslim wedding ceremony that I’ve ever attended and it happened to be
I’ve ever attended and it happened to be
I’ve ever attended and it happened to be officiated by chance by a Jewish
officiated by chance by a Jewish
officiated by chance by a Jewish Catholic convert to Buddhism so so it
Catholic convert to Buddhism so so it
Catholic convert to Buddhism so so it was long it was a pain to plan it was
was long it was a pain to plan it was
was long it was a pain to plan it was probably the most complicated ceremony a
probably the most complicated ceremony a
probably the most complicated ceremony a lot of our guests that ever attended but
lot of our guests that ever attended but
lot of our guests that ever attended but it was also at least in my opinion
it was also at least in my opinion
it was also at least in my opinion original and beautiful and suggestive of
original and beautiful and suggestive of
original and beautiful and suggestive of some of the innovation potential of
some of the innovation potential of
some of the innovation potential of diversity of course differences can’t
diversity of course differences can’t
diversity of course differences can’t always be smoothed over right there
always be smoothed over right there
always be smoothed over right there aren’t always win-win solutions and when
aren’t always win-win solutions and when
aren’t always win-win solutions and when difference coincides with disadvantage
difference coincides with disadvantage
difference coincides with disadvantage we have a particularly thorny problem
we have a particularly thorny problem
we have a particularly thorny problem and this is my third point so when
and this is my third point so when
and this is my third point so when groups are separated not only by culture
groups are separated not only by culture
groups are separated not only by culture but also by socioeconomic status by how
but also by socioeconomic status by how
but also by socioeconomic status by how much money they make by the type of jobs
much money they make by the type of jobs
much money they make by the type of jobs they have
they have
they have by their levels of education by their
by their levels of education by their
by their levels of education by their power and their access to power this
power and their access to power this
power and their access to power this sort of inequality creates additional
sort of inequality creates additional
sort of inequality creates additional barriers to their interaction I think
barriers to their interaction I think
barriers to their interaction I think it’s important to note here that this
it’s important to note here that this
it’s important to note here that this inequality affects not only minority
inequality affects not only minority
inequality affects not only minority groups in society but also majority
groups in society but also majority
groups in society but also majority groups so not only african-americans in
groups so not only african-americans in
groups so not only african-americans in the United States for instance but also
the United States for instance but also
the United States for instance but also Americans of European descent not only
Americans of European descent not only
Americans of European descent not only migrants in Europe but also native
migrants in Europe but also native
migrants in Europe but also native European populations but rather than
European populations but rather than
European populations but rather than diversity being the central problem the
diversity being the central problem the
diversity being the central problem the central problem is inequality inequality
central problem is inequality inequality
central problem is inequality inequality intersecting with diversity and this is
intersecting with diversity and this is
intersecting with diversity and this is what we should all be focusing on
what we should all be focusing on
what we should all be focusing on addressing so when I say this I imagine
addressing so when I say this I imagine
addressing so when I say this I imagine many of you are thinking affirmative
many of you are thinking affirmative
many of you are thinking affirmative action because this is the policy
action because this is the policy
action because this is the policy response that I think most of us are
response that I think most of us are
response that I think most of us are most familiar with here and I think this
most familiar with here and I think this
most familiar with here and I think this is one option that should be considered
is one option that should be considered
is one option that should be considered seriously considered but there are a
seriously considered but there are a
seriously considered but there are a number of other policy options and we
number of other policy options and we
number of other policy options and we might think just to give one example
might think just to give one example
might think just to give one example about promoting equal access to
about promoting equal access to
about promoting equal access to education starting from early childhood
education starting from early childhood
education starting from early childhood so all in all individuals on both sides
so all in all individuals on both sides
so all in all individuals on both sides need to recognize that this debate over
need to recognize that this debate over
need to recognize that this debate over diversity isn’t as simple as saying
diversity isn’t as simple as saying
diversity isn’t as simple as saying diversity is good or diversity is bad it
diversity is good or diversity is bad it
diversity is good or diversity is bad it can have benefits and it can have costs
can have benefits and it can have costs
can have benefits and it can have costs and for liberal multiculturalists for
and for liberal multiculturalists for
and for liberal multiculturalists for people sort of like me it means
people sort of like me it means
people sort of like me it means recognizing that many of those who voted
recognizing that many of those who voted
recognizing that many of those who voted for Trump and brexit do have some
for Trump and brexit do have some
for Trump and brexit do have some concerns over difference and over
concerns over difference and over
concerns over difference and over disadvantage that are worth considering
disadvantage that are worth considering
disadvantage that are worth considering and worth speaking to and for Trump and
and worth speaking to and for Trump and
and worth speaking to and for Trump and brexit supporters it can mean
brexit supporters it can mean
brexit supporters it can mean recognizing that diversity isn’t just
recognizing that diversity isn’t just
recognizing that diversity isn’t just something to manage it’s something to
something to manage it’s something to
something to manage it’s something to value something that brings value I
value something that brings value I
value something that brings value I think regardless of where you stand then
think regardless of where you stand then
think regardless of where you stand then let’s try to look at the evidence
let’s try to look at the evidence
let’s try to look at the evidence there’s a lot of research here the talk
there’s a lot of research here the talk
there’s a lot of research here the talk just skims the surface
just skims the surface
just skims the surface and let’s try to move away from these
and let’s try to move away from these
and let’s try to move away from these politically entrenched positions I think
politically entrenched positions I think
politically entrenched positions I think this can be really hard I know and it
this can be really hard I know and it
this can be really hard I know and it will require tolerance and empathy and
will require tolerance and empathy and
will require tolerance and empathy and kindness on all sides but I think and I
kindness on all sides but I think and I
kindness on all sides but I think and I hope that in this way we can rebuild and
hope that in this way we can rebuild and
hope that in this way we can rebuild and build a common ground a place from which
build a common ground a place from which
build a common ground a place from which we can all move forward thank you
”
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