Homogenous and Heterogenous

15:23 April 0 Comments

Positive impacts of a heterogenous culture
Many people focus on the negative impacts of immigration such as the dilution of domestic culture. However, there are many positive impacts- immigration creates a more diverse society. Cultures collide and create something new. Immigration enriches domestic collide to create something new. Immigration enriches domestic culture. Culture itself is not static; it is ever-changing. Traditions may be preserved but the culture continues to evolve and change. The UK can be described as being diverse and multicultural due to the immigration which has occurred. The World Values Survey mapped the most and least radically tolerant countries. People were asked to identify the types of people wouldn't want as a neighbour. Anglo and Latin countries were most tolerant, whilst India and Jordan were by far the least tolerant. More than 40% said they wouldn't want a neighbour of a different race.

Variations in cultural diversity 
A 2011 paper for the National Bureau of Economic Research, "Cultural Diversity, Geographical Isolation and the Origins of the Wealth of Nations', looks at the development and how/why it differs across countries/societies. It was carried out to better understand the relationship between cultural diversity and economic growth. The findings of the study were...
- A greater degree of diversity increased standards of living in the industrial era.
- Cultural homogeneity had a positive impact on economic development before the industrial revolution, but is associated with a decrease in per capita income in 1960.


Examples of a homogenous culture: Iceland
93% of Iceland's residents are Icelandic. The Icelandic population today is remarkably homogenous. There has been little significant immigration since Norsemen first settled in Iceland in the 9th century. Iceland genetic isolation has created is of significant interest to scientists investigation the human genome. A genetic experiment began in an attempt to find the root causes of, and potential cures for, some of the worlds worst diseases (Time Magazine).
Iceland is an island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean. It was founded more than 1000 years ago during the viking age of exploration and settles by a mixed Norse and Celtic population. It is physically isolated- 500 miles from its closest neighbour Scotland. Although it is increasingly integrated into the European mainstream. Icelanders take care to preserve their traditions, customs and language. Many Icelanders still believe in elves, trolls and other mythical creatures. Iceland has a rugged 3000 mile coastline. Iceland economy is mostly generated through the primary sector (fishing) but also contains manufacturing. Icelanders are proof that a small and homogenous population can develop a rich and varied cultural life. Iceland character reflects both it homogeneity and its isolation, and its people take care to preserve their traditions and language by using native terms for introduced objects.
Twice in the 15th century the plague visited Iceland and killed around half of the population each time.


Japanese Culture
The culture of Japan has evolved greatly go the millennia. The inhabitants of Japan experienced a long period of relative isolation from the outside world during to Tokugawa Shogunate. The roots of Japan's culture lie in this period of time. After establishing authority of Japan in 1603, the Tokugawa rulers froze the social order by dividing into roughly 4 different classes: Samurai, peasants, artisans and merchants. The hierarchy prevented social ability(the ability to move social class) and into status marriage. Another group was created outside the classes-outcasts (people do menial work). A 'we' and 'them' mindset was created between Japanese samurais and common people. During the Tokugawa period the state policy of seclusion, Sakoku, was creases to isolate Japan from rest of the world. After this period of egalitarian (equal) citizenship was introduced. However, internal distinctions between classes continued. The idea of 'we' and 'them' was apply to Japan and the rest of the world. Benedict Anderson created the 'imagined community' theory. This is the idea that's nation and race are limited because of it members perceived boundaries- beyond which the rest of the world lies. 'We' (the Japanese race/nation) is the imagined community, 'them' are the nations beyond the perceived boundary. The shared Japanese identity can be said to be reinforced by the fact that Japan is an isolated island nation made up of series of small islands. This creates awareness of their geographical location making it easier for them to maintain the 'we' 'them' mentality. Nowadays the use of the 'we' and 'them' mentality mostly applies to foreigners such as migrant workers. The foreigners present, in the minds of many Japanese, are threat to the stability of their homogenous Japanese society.

The World Values Survey (WVS)-Inglehart-Welzel Cultural Map
This is a global research project explores peoples values and beliefs. Analysis of WVS data made by political scientists Ronald Inglehart and Christian Welzel asserts that there are two major dimensions of cross-cultural variation in the world:
1. traditional values versus secular-rational values and
2. survival values versus self-expression values.

Traditional values emphasise the importance of religion, parent-child ties, deference to authority and traditional family values. People who embrace the values also rejected divorce, euthanasia, abortion and suicide. These societies have high-levels of national pride and a nationalistic outlook. Secular-rational values have the opposite preference to the traditional values.
Survival values place emphasis on economic and physical security. It is linked to a relatively ethnocentric outlook and low levels of trust and tolerance.
Self-expression values give high priority to environmental protection, growing tolerance of foreigners, gays and lesbians and gender equality, and the rising demands for participation in decision-making in economic and political life.
The countries can be divided into nine clusters based on location, language, etc. They can also be clustered by wealth. WVS is currently preparing data from way six with surveys conducted from 2010 to 2014.

Cultural diversity in cities
London: London is one of the most ethnically diverse cities on earth. In 2007 there were over 300 languages spoken in it and more than 50 non-indigenous communities with a population of over 10,000. At the 2011 Census London had a population of 8,179,941, of this 44.9% were White British, 37% were born outside the UK and 24.5% were born outside Europe.

One significant group/ ethnic minority is Bangladeshi. A major wave of immigration began in the 1970s as people fled from poverty and the Bangladesh liberation War. Many settled around Brick Lane. The history of Chinese in London is long and complex, the first Chinese people arrived in the 19th century as sailors. The largest ethnic minority London is Indian. People from India has settled in Great Britain since the East Indian company (EIC) recruited lascars to replace vacancies in their crews. During the 19th century, the EIC bought over thousands of Indian lascars, scholars and workers to Britain- many of whom settled down and took local British wives. Following World War II and the breakup of the British Empire, Indian migration to the UK increased through the 50s and 60s.

"Many free festivals are held across London to celebrate the cultural contribution of London's diverse community. These festivals build the cohesion in integration of the city, making the citizens feel recognised, breaking down barriers and creating momentum as the city learns about and continues to experience new cultures."-The Guardian April 2008.



Leicester Diwali- 
In 2015 thousands gathered on November 11th to celebrate Diwali: a five day festival celebrating light, knowledge and good nature. Leicester's Divali celebrations are said to be the biggest outside India and the cities "Golden mile" is decked with garlands featuring more than 6500 lights. It attracts over 35,000 visitors of all faiths come across Britain, Europe, the US and Canada, to enjoy the spectacle.
Diwali is just one example of how Asian festivals have become bigger, flashier and more visible across multicultural Britain over the last two decades. Amazon in India already offers a special Diwali sale for native customers, the global giant also has plans to spread its wings by opening a "Diwali store" for US and UK customers. It is becoming a more commercial festival. "I think there is nothing wrong with commercialisation. It's different with Diwali..." "we haven't last the cultural aspect of it by any means. But at the same time we have to keep up with modern times, this is just an evolved way of celebrating now."- Harps.
The festival is now appealing to non-Asians. In summer 2015 Sainsbury's, Tesco and Asda offered specials. "It's very lucrative. It's a growing market because the country is becoming more diverse- and if the supermarket want to win customers, they have to cater to every taste."
The commercialisation of such festivals has brought out many varied opinions about the necessity of families celebrating through superficial means.