Social Capital and Diversity : Some Lessons from Canada

Dealing with the consequences of a rising ethnic and cultural diversity will most likely be among the major challenges of the 21st century, particularly in immigrant-receiving countries in Europe, North America, as well as Australia. The sharp increase in ethnic diversity has questioned the relevance of many structures, policies, and practices that were based on the premise of ethnic/cultural homogeneity of populations in such countries.
Based on several years of extensive research on this topic in Canada, this book offers an image, in which ethnic diversity is associated positively with social goods. In particular, the study reported here shows that Canada does not seem to have suffered from the rising diversity. The findings also suggest that the key element that can translate diversity into positive outcomes is an increased social interaction – and not merely an inter-cultural understanding – among people of diverse backgrounds.

Dealing with the consequences of a rising ethnic and cultural diversity will most likely be among the major challenges of the 21st century, particularly in immigrant-receiving countries in Europe, North America, as well as Australia. The sharp increase in ethnic diversity has questioned the relevance of many structures, policies, and practices that were based on the premise of ethnic/cultural homogeneity of populations in such countries. Based on several years of extensive research on this topic in Canada, this book offers an image, in which ethnic diversity is associated positively with social goods. In particular, the study reported here shows that Canada does not seem to have suffered from the rising diversity. The findings also suggest that the key element that can translate diversity into positive outcomes is an increased social interaction – and not merely an inter-cultural understanding – among people of diverse backgrounds.