Cultural Diversity, Economic Development and Societal Instability

Daniel Nettle,Howard V Cornell,Marc Choisy,Jean-François Guégan,James B Grace,Michael E Hochberg,Sarah Brosnan

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000929

Abstract

BackgroundSocial scientists have suggested that cultural diversity in a nation leads to societal instability. However, societal instability may be affected not only by within-nation or α diversity, but also diversity between a nation and its neighbours or β diversity. It is also necessary to distinguish different domains of diversity, namely linguistic, ethnic and religious, and to distinguish between the direct effects of diversity on societal instability, and effects that are mediated by economic conditions.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe assembled a large cross-national dataset with information on α and β cultural diversity, economic conditions, and indices of societal instability. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of cultural diversity on economics and societal stability. Results show that different types and domains of diversity have interacting effects. As previously documented, linguistic α diversity has a negative effect on economic performance, and we show that it is largely through this economic mechanism that it affects societal instability. For β diversity, the higher the linguistic diversity among nations in a region, the less stable the nation. But, religious β diversity has the opposite effect, reducing instability, particularly in the presence of high linguistic diversity.ConclusionsWithin-nation linguistic diversity is associated with reduced economic performance, which, in turn, increases societal instability. Nations which differ linguistically from their neighbors are also less stable. However, religious diversity between neighboring nations has the opposite effect, decreasing societal instability.

Highlights

Ethnic divisions are often invoked to explain civil strife and conflict, but what evidence implicates cultural diversity as a causal factor in such strife? Social scientists have often argued that diversity within a nation might have negative effects on societal outcomes
There is a weak but significant effect of ethnic a diversity on societal instability that is not mediated by economic conditions, in the form of the ethnic Simpson index to Societal Instability pathway
There is an effect of within-country diversity on societal instability, with more diversity being associated with more instability

Summary

Introduction

Social scientists have often argued that diversity within a nation might have negative effects on societal outcomes. The focus has instead been on the relationship between cultural diversity and economic performance across nations. It is necessary to distinguish different domains of diversity, namely linguistic, ethnic and religious, and to distinguish between the direct effects of diversity on societal instability, and effects that are mediated by economic conditions. Linguistic a diversity has a negative effect on economic performance, and we show that it is largely through this economic mechanism that it affects societal instability. Within-nation linguistic diversity is associated with reduced economic performance, which, in turn, increases societal instability. Religious diversity between neighboring nations has the opposite effect, decreasing societal instability

Methods

Results

Conclusion