The Soapbox | Where South Africans Speak Out

By Graham Robert Pote

“‘Unity in diversity’ is a myth; a sham exposed by the simple facts of social psychology.”
(Heywood, 1997, 2007)

Cultural diversity, or multiculturalism in a state, “implies a positive endorsement of communal diversity, based either on the right of different cultural groups to respect and recognition” (Heywood, 1997, 2007:215). Cultural diversity is an ideological principle because it is typically the ideal or perfectionist state of affairs in which numerous cultural groups and identities peacefully co-exist (Heywood, 1997, 2007:215). While the ideal of cultural diversity would be a fastidious situation in which to exist, there are numerous examples of the failures that arise from multiculturalism, or where numerous cultures exist aside each other.

The “affirmation of one’s ethnic peculiarity” is a fundamental part of a strong identity to which one subscribes (Caws, 376). In light of this statement, culture is an essential part of existence because it forms part of one’s identity and person. Therefore, people have a natural intent and desire to prove and affirm their identity and to promote their culture, as Caws proposes ( p376). Subsequently, on a large scale, multiculturalism will not allow for individual freedom and therefore must be discouraged, because the dominant cultural group will invariably be the most successful in promoting their own set of interests and ideals, as that group will be the most able to achieve this (Berlant, Warner, 112).

Multiculturalism, which is gained from cultural diversity within a country or state, “seeks to link together identity struggles with a common rhetoric of difference and resistance” (Chicago Cultural Studies Group, 114). This concept remains as the ideological form of the concept, as this situation would be idyllic should it actually happen. However, time and time again, the co-existence of more than one cultural group has proven to be perilous (Heywood, 1997, 2007:215). In his critique of multiculturalism, Heywood states that multicultural societies are “inherently fractured, conflict-ridden and unstable societies” (1997, 2007:218), and that countries in which various cultures reside are typically prone to violence and cultural hostility as each culture endeavours to define and protect themselves. Examples of such are South Africa, Rwanda, Israel and Palestine, Germany and Turkey, France (and its immigrants), Britain (and its immigrants), and the devastation that is Darfur and its ‘ethnic cleansing;’ an example at its best of the dominant culture exercising its dominance.

South Africa is a brilliant example of multiculturalism: With eleven official languages and over fifteen cultures, each predominantly defined by a different language, South Africa is ‘diversity-101.’ The country’s motto, which lies beneath the coat of arms, states “diverse people unite” and can also mean “unity in diversity.” However, is there really unity in South Africa? Conflict remains to be seen taking place between different ethnic groups, as witnessed in the 2008 ‘xenophobic attacks’ in which inter-cultural violence took place. How can a nation feel united when there are eleven languages to be communicated in, or rather to be used to separate one from one’s neighbour? Additionally, the different ethnic groups further separate themselves politically, as they each vote for a party that represents their own people, as demonstrated in the outcome of the 2009 election, whereby each province showed favour towards a party that was run by members of their own group of people. As suggested by Heywood (1997, 2007:218), emphasis needs to be placed on the assimilation of all groups into one national identity, rather than the fostering of “peculiarist identities” that “threaten political instability, possibly threatening social breakdown and violence” (Heywood, 1997, 2007:217).

Multiculturalism is quite simply a form of collectivism, which endangers individual freedom as the rights of the individual are subordinate to those of the dominant social group (Heywood, 1997, 2007: 217). Typically, minorities that have not assimilated into dominant culture have been economically and socially disadvantaged due to cultural differences to the dominant culture (Caws, 373). In light of these points, it can be said that in order for a nation to function stably and for its people to be served effectively, the nation must be united. This will be achieved when the nation is monocultured, as Heywood suggests (1997, 2007:448), as this is the point at which discrimination and inter-cultural hostility will not take place, as all members of the nation share the same culture, or body of “beliefs, attitudes and values” (Heywood, 1997, 2007:448).

It has become clear from the evidence supplied that where there is cultural difference or ‘diversity,’ there is habitually a case for hostility or political instability. Heywood poses the question that is “how is political stability to be maintained in societies in which the monocultural bonds of political nationalism have been fatally undermined [by the promotion of multi-culture]?” (1997, 2007:215). The question is valid, because there cannot be “togetherness” or political stability where there is difference and multiplicity (Heywood, 1997, 2007: 215). Take South Africa and its eleven official languages for example (again), which has a seemingly stable political condition, but an extremely fragile inter-socio/inter-cultural relationship, as demonstrated by the recent xenophobic violence.

It must be noted that humans are “limited and dependant creatures, naturally drawn to others similar to themselves, who therefore fear or distrust people who are in some way different” (Heywood, 1997, 2007: 218). Therefore, in conclusion, it is clear that cultural diversity needs to be rejected and societies need to be protected against it. In nations where numerous cultures exist, all cultures must be assimilated into one, so that the nation will have true solidarity.

Graham Robert Pote is a Politics, Film, and Law student at the University of Cape Town.