The Downside of Diversity

A colleague sent me an article on the report out of Harvard University entitled “The Downside of Diversity” a few days before the launch of my e-zine www.americandiversityreport.com.  He wanted to prepare me for the questions that might follow in the report’s wake.    This article describes research that will no doubt cause considerable debate across the country. The research found that while the creative tension of diversity in the workplace drives innovation, increased diversity in the community lowers social capital on many levels. There is a decrease in numerous variables of a cohesive community such as networking, charitable giving and volunteerism to name a few. If the community cannot overcome the g-forces of diversity, the author suggests that diversity in the workplace will be unsustainable. Further, there are clues that this is already happening communities are already seeking to limit their own diversity.

My take on the dilemma is not to decrease diversity in communities but to change expectations.  The expectation of the "warm fuzzies" as the by-products of finding common ground is not realistic.  But there are a few basic commonalities of a given geographical area.   Some examples might be:
1.  attracting economic investment
2.  roads & infrastructure safety
3.  environmental health - water, sewage . . .

 Expecting the average household to have an interest in diversity is counterproductive and can lead to disillusionment and backlash  Even interested people may never get beyond the point of appreciating a culture fair or ethnic food. I believe that meshing diverse cultures falls in the realm of leadership.  However, we may be able to develop diverse leaders dedicated long-term to being diplomats and brokers for their cultural group.   Newcomers have historically been less engaged and civic oriented but that doesn't necessarily dictate future behavior, particularly of upcoming generations.  Rather than be fatalistic about our communities, I prefer to think of them as a futurists' playground where creativity through diversity produces innovation, as it does in corporations.  We need to be bold about diverse communities, find ways to make them assets as if our lives depend upon it, which I believe they do. We should be turning out leaders, think tanks, experimental projects and grants to look at the challenges and opportunities for our still emerging diversity. The corporations that have used diversity so effectively to create and innovate might lead the way in developing strategies rather than wait for the weight of a dysfunctional diverse community to suffocate them.