Tensions from Diversity Management - Essay Example

Tensions from Diversity Management Introduction Nation s and colonial regimes have historically managed diversity while creating further diversity in the process. This balancing act through the concept of multiculturalism has always resulted in the birth of diverse challenges in the form of tensions. This essay will discuss some of these tensions, using examples from history. Diversity It is imperative to explain the diversity in the cultural context in order to understand the task of managing diversity. The term diversity has grown in use over the recent years. Even though it regularly appears in the popular media, scholarly literature, professional journals and many more, it is a multifaceted expression, and thus, there is no single definition of diversity. The dictionary definition of diversity is “a state of unlikeness” or “the condition of being different.” For many, diversity means inclusion, gender, or racial differences. Since we are all different, diversity is a term that includes everyone. In this essay, diversity refers to individual, group and cultural differences. A nation-state is an independent state in which the majority of the citizens are united by factors such as common descent and language, which are factors that define a nation. JurgenOsterhammel (2005) as “a relationship between the majority who are indigenous and the foreign invaders who are the minority”, on the other hand, defines colonialism. In the pursuit of interests, the colonial rulers make and implement the fundamental decisions that affect the lives of the colonized people. History has that many examples of colonial regimes rejecting cultural compromises with the colonized population exist. This end up forcing the colonized population believes that the colonizers are the superior. Unsurprisingly, this rejection leads to tensions within the diverse population. A concept that has been propagated to respond and manage the issue of diversity is multiculturalism. Multiculturalism Multiculturalism is the ideology of embracing diversity in cultures and formulation of policies to protect the existence of different orientations in a population (Long, 1997). It is all about making people in a society to preserve their different cultures. The idea of multiculturalism is manifested in the approach used to propagate and champion for it. Advocacy groups are formed to push for recognition of the right of people to uphold and practice their culture and religion. Another way it comes out is by creating of policies that promote diversity of cultures. The concept is opposed to the integration of different cultures to form a new culture having different components. It drums up the support of interactions of the diverse cultures, practices and norms and resulting in appreciation of the diversity as its core tenet. The values exhibited in various religious, ethnic, or cultural set ups are not elevated above each other, but appreciated as part of the community mosaic. Proponents of Multiculturalism The supporters of the ideology opine that by inculcating the policies the achievements would be advanced in terms of addressing racism, protecting minority groupings, expansion of religious freedom, etc. Among the World events, that made multiculturalism be popular and appealing is the Second World War. The emergence of extreme ideologies as seen in the Nazis led to the annihilation of almost a completely ethnic group (Baranowski, 2011). Thus, it was after the holocaust that the eyes of many were open to the possible radicalization when a person does not embrace multiculturalism. It gained momentum when European powers granted independence to their colonies, and with the rise of civil rights movements that rose against assimilation policies of some colonial masters (Carey, 2009). The arguments in support of multiculturalism are the notion that all cultures and customs are equally important. There is no need to vilify any culture based on the people practicing it; instead, there should be a beauty in diversity. Culturally diverse societies have a pool of multi-skilled and talented people. In embracing the concept, societies have been able to get leverage over others socially, politically and economically. For example, the united state of America if a highly diverse nation with people from all races. This has enabled it to integrate different ideologies embedded in the cultures in it. Talents and skills in this populace have propelled the country to greater heights. Tensions arising out of Diversity Management Tensions from managing diversity have affected almost any nation. It is noteworthy that since there is no universally accepted way of life, points of differences are bound to occur. History has proven that cultures do evolve depending on circumstances peculiar to that moment. During colonial periods, Europeans made it their priority to protect their identity and world view. They achieved this through the introduction of the education system to enable their colonies learn their language and subsequently their culture (Watson, 2000). The pre-existing cultures of the colonies were labeled as backward. French, for example, introduced a policy of assimilation, and this had the objective of creating an extended French nation beyond their borders. This did not augur well in their colonies, and people felt that they had lost their identity and accumulated wisdom in the best way they knew. This assimilation tendencies yielded negative perception of the French and eventual clamor for independence. In America, the diversity occasioned by Latino immigration has made the natives feel threatened in all spheres of life. This has brought about a xenophobic atmosphere because the natives feel that work opportunities are being decimated by the Latinos. It is also becoming a political issue due to the rising influence of these immigrants. By managing the diversity of immigrants of the other descent, therefore, has led to strain in diplomatic foreign policies (UNESCO, 1953). Cross border laws, especially with Latin Americans have been made draconian and discriminatory. In recent history, there has been the issue of increased terror activities. Attack on America on September 11 was interpreted as the fruits of embracing outsiders in the USA. Accommodation of the Muslim community and autonomy accorded to their religious leanings has been viewed as too lenient to an extent of allowing ample grounds for the growth of Islamic fundamentalism. So much as the US is respecting religious freedom; the challenge of security in its homeland has made it biased against any Muslim faithful entering its soil. Stringent screening has occurred to the extent of negating the ideals of diversity in America. There has also been redefined and reinterpretation of the range of human rights issues. The values of equality and freedom have brought challenges in trying to incorporate various groups with differing needs. In recent times, gay and lesbian communities have increased pressure for their acceptance. Religious foundations have suffered the same fate. Gay marriages pushed by the Anglican bishops and the Catholic priests clamor for their being allowed to marry, have caused tensions in the religious circles. These new and weird developments have made diversity a thorn in the flesh for many. Racial segregation and discrimination in the history of the white majority ruled countries is a manifestation of the challenges of diversity (Healey, 2000). In South Africa, the era of apartheid brought out the weaknesses in the world view of the perpetrators in the narrow belief that they were superior to other races. American society discriminated on the African Americans for long, and they even labeled them ‘Negros’ and ‘Black Americans’ as a tool to make the different race feel second-class citizens. Gender roles and recognition have not escaped the tensions it has brought in its debates and struggles throughout history.The more conservative countries, especially the Islamic states and Muslim dominated nations have been finding, embracing diverse ideas concerning female empowerment unacceptable.They also practice double standards when addressing cases that have been equally contributed by either gender. In adultery cases, a woman is subjected to ridicule and even death sentences, leaving the male accomplice Scot free. In African cultures, a woman is not supposed to get an inheritance from the parents, and many conflicts do arise out of this practice. The rights may exist in the wills and even the country’s constitution, but getting them implemented is another uphill task. Conclusion Every Nation-State has dealt with managing diversity in one way, or another. Some of them have been able to do that peacefully and progressively. On the other hand, the management of diversity has resulted in further divisions and polarization of its population. The concept of multiculturalism in dealing with the reality of diverse cultures in the community has gained prominence in many countries and has gotten constitutional inclusion. Many of the human rights ideals protect diversity. It has, however, emerged that managing diversity leaves any nation-state in divisions similar to the unique diversity in the first place. The ideologies of multiculturalism and its practice have provided fertile grounds for development of terror groups, inhumane practices of groups and other unbecoming religious influences that violate human rights. Some countries faced security issues are revisiting the idea of tolerance to diversity. These tensions arising out of managing diversity is a phenomenon that is here to stay. Countries need to embrace cultures that are universal in nature and based on ethical considerations. This is made even more imperative because the trend of the day is increased globalization and migrations as people engage in international activities like trade and tourism. References Baranowski, S. (2011). Nazi empire: German colonialism and imperialism from Bismarck to Hitler. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Carey, D., & Festa, L. M. (2009). The postcolonial enlightenment: eighteenth-century colonialism and postcolonial theory. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Healey, J. (2000). Multiculturalism. Balmain, N.S.W., Spinney Press. Long, R. E. (1997). Multiculturalism. New York, H.W. Wilson. Unesco. (2003). Interrelations of cultures: their contribution to international understanding. Paris, Unesco. Watson, C. W. (2000). Multiculturalism. Buckingham, Open University Press. Read More