Ethnic Diversity and Solidarity

Ethnic diversity and solidarity are often thought to be at odds with each other. In an increasingly diverse society, individuals find it more difficult to identify with other citizens and, therefore, are less willing to show solidarity. Empirical tests of the relationship between diversity and solidarity are, however, inconclusive.

This book tests the hypothesis that diversity undermines solidarity in various ways. It discusses the meaning of social solidarity and the different motives that people can have to act solidary, and it examines the relationship between ethnic diversity and solidarity at the national, regional and local levels. These empirical tests use multiple methods, such as an international survey, a vignette study among the Dutch population, and a field experiment involving visitors to a popular market in Amsterdam. The role of the mass media is examined by studying the images of different ethnic groups that are presented in some popular newspapers, TV programmes and a news provider on the Internet. The collection concludes that, although ethnicity is certainly an important factor in understanding patterns of solidarity, there is not a simple linear relationship between ethnic diversity and solidarity. Even though ethnic difference in itself may be a source of discrimination, one cannot conclude from this that increasing ethnic diversity will necessarily result in less solidarity.