Transformation of Societies

Abstract

Developed-country populations that began their fertility transitions rela tively early are becoming increasingly diverse with respect to the ancestry, ethnic origins, and religions of their inhabitants. This is primarily a result of high levels of immigration, particularly migration from the less developed countries. To a lesser extent, higher birth rates of some of the immigrant pop ulations further amplify diversity. This article considers whether the growing diversity of the origins of the populations of Western countries is inevitable, what its social, economic, and political consequences might be, and whether increasing diversity may eventually become a universal phenomenon or instead might remain confined primarily to countries currently classed as developed. Globalization of increasing population diversity may be much less marked in many of those countries that began their fertility transitions later and are now progressing toward full economic development. If so, the later that those countries develop, the less heterogeneous they will become through migration. That divergence between countries, if it arose, could have important political and social consequences.